Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shooting: 14-year-old suspect arrested, at least 2 killed

At least two people were killed and five hurt as hundreds of shoppers fled Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok on Tuesday while gunshots were heard ringing near high-end retail stores.

Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau said a 14-year-old boy was arrested after police caught up with him on the third floor of the Siam Kempinski Hotel.

Footage from a security camera shows the purported shooter kneeling with his hands on his head as three officers close in on him. One officer then tackles him to the floor.

The Nation newspaper reported that the suspect surrendered after he ran out of bullets.

จับคนร้ายได้เเล้วครับ ทุกคน !!! #พารากอน#siamparagon pic.twitter.com/akBE2yONQR

— ? ? ? ? ♡ (@DEENWCRP) October 3, 2023

Other images of the supposed gunman show a man wearing camouflage trousers, brown cap, a black jacket and military-style shoes. In one photo, he seems to be holding a handgun. 

ฺ#BREAKING: Gunfire heard in Siam Paragon mall

A shooting incident has been reported at Siam Paragan department store in downtown Bangkok on Tuesday afternoon. There are no reports of any casualties. BTS Siam station has been closed to the public.

ฺ #พารากอน #Paragon pic.twitter.com/y7sMwHRR1p

— The Nation Thailand (@Thenationth) October 3, 2023

ล่าสุดมีผู้บาดเจ็บ 1 ราย เป็นหญิง
ได้รับการช่วยเหลือแล้ว#พารากอน#พารากอน #Siamparagon #แอฟทักษอร #ฝนตก#เพื่อไทย #เพื่อไทยการละคร #รองประธานสภา #นางแบก #พรรคเพื่อไทย #เพื่อไทยตระบัดสัตย์#ก้าวไกล pic.twitter.com/z1lxwbVL43

— ปากกาส้ม (@talkingpen88) October 3, 2023

Panic at Paragon as shoppers flee mall after hearing what sounds like gunfire.#พารากอน #paragon #Bangkok pic.twitter.com/Dj8eFsz0jU

— ᒍᑌᔕT ᗰIKE (@_MikeMcKay) October 3, 2023

Videos and photos posted on social media show people rushing to the exits as an “active shooter” was reported to be prowling Siam Paragon mall at around 4pm.

Siam Paragon is Thailand’s most famous mall, drawing large numbers of people with its high-end stores, movie theatre, a 10,000 sq m aquarium, and hugely popular food court dining.

In 2013, it was named the world’s most photographed place by Instagram.

We were eating ice cream when suddenly many people came running and looked scared.I heard someone say that there seems to be?. Too scared! When we ran out, we seemed to hear bang's voice.???#พารากอน pic.twitter.com/qPpUcEztOP

— Shirley (@xiaxia00701) October 3, 2023

Emergency services said earlier in the day that at least three people were killed and three were injured in the incident. It later clarified that only one died.

But National Police chief Torsak Sukvimol told reporters later in the evening that at least two people – a Chinese and a Myanmar national – were killed, and that five were injured in the shooting.

The Chinese tourist died on the spot, while the one from Myanmar died at a hospital, he said.

 

@gift_gibby คือตกใจมาก นั่งอยู่ร้าน KFC ชั้น G ? แล้วคนวิ่งกรูกันออกมา เลยวิ่งออกมาตาม พอวิ่งออกมาเลยสอบถาม เค้าบอกมียิงกัน #ยิง #siamparagon #paragon ♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ - ? Gift ?

One image posted on X shows first responders treating a mall security guard who was reportedly shot in the back.

Police said the suspect  – a student at a school near the mall  –  claimed that he thought someone was going to attack him, so he took out his Glock 9mm pistol and started shooting, according to The Nation.

Initial reports said the gunshots were first heard coming from a toilet on the ground floor.

Shoppers who could not get to the exits took shelter inside stores at the mall.

A video posted on X shows men, women and children hurriedly making their way out of a grocery shop.

“We were eating ice cream when suddenly many people came running and looked scared. I heard someone say that there seems to be (gunshots),” X user Shirley (@xiaxia00701) said in her post.

Chinese tourist Xiong Ying, 41, told Agence France-Presse: “We didn’t know what was happening. Then staff from a shop asked us to go inside and said there was a shooter.”

“Everyone was trying to find a place to hide. So many people were terrified, just like a scene in the zombie movies,” she said. “I now feel quite scared. It happened just like two minutes after we left by crossing the bridge. We even took photos there.”

Mr Thanpawasit Singthongkham, 31, who works at a Japanese restaurant in the mall, said he heard “loud gun noises, continuously, about 10 times” at around 4.30pm.

“Then the department store announced that there was a shooting. The emergency sign was turned on and everyone ran to get out,” he said.

Ms Shir Yahav, a tourist from Israel, told Reuters she saw people running without understanding why – before hearing gunfire.

She said she was among a group who hid in a shop for “two hours, one hour and a half, something like that, and we block(ed) the door”.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters the situation has been brought under control.

“Police are clearing the scene. The situation is easing,” he said.

Mr Srettha expressed his sympathy and support for the families of those who died and were injured.

The Singapore embassy in Thailand has advised Singaporeans to “continue to closely monitor the situation through local news reports and to follow the instructions of the Thai authorities”.

“The embassy will provide further updates if there are further developments. Please stay safe,” it said.

Gun violence is common in Thailand.

An ex-police officer killed 22 children in a nursery in 2022 during a gun-and-knife attack, while in 2020, a soldier shot and killed at least 29 people and wounded 57 in a rampage covering four locations in and around the north-eastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima.