A janitor at Thepsirin School, one of the eyewitnesses to the shooting, described a male student who carried out a gun attack on August 7, 2026, in the Bang Kruai area of Nonthaburi province. The incident left teachers and students with numerous injuries and claimed seven lives. The janitor recounted that the initial shooting occurred on the sixth floor of Building 5, which houses junior secondary students (grades 7-9). While working on a lower floor near the building, he did not see the first moments of the attack but heard gunshots at intervals, not in continuous bursts.

When unusual and persistent sounds erupted, the janitor knew something serious was happening and immediately worked with other staff to secure the rear entrances for safety. After firing on the sixth floor, the gunman calmly walked down the stairs to the lower level and crossed to the senior secondary building (Building 4), passing close by the janitor without apparent panic or fear.

The janitor noted that the gunman's demeanor appeared remarkably composed—he walked casually without showing signs of panic, flight, or fear. Even when police began arriving at the scene, the gunman continued walking up to higher floors of Building 4 and fired 2-3 more shots before the incident subsided, likely when ammunition ran out.

When asked about bullying or motivations, the janitor said his duties involved maintaining cleanliness and managing doors, so he was unaware of academic disputes or conflicts among students. In over 20 years of employment at the school, he had never encountered such a violent incident. Regarding security measures, the janitor explained that the school normally had a teacher monitoring the entrance and used facial recognition scanning to record student attendance, but had no metal detectors or weapons scanning equipment at entry points.

Port FC, a leading Thai League football club, released a statement expressing deep condolences for the victims and injured from the violent incident at Thepsirin School in Nonthaburi province. A shooting occurred at the school in Bang Kruai district on the morning of August 7, resulting in numerous injuries and seven deaths. Port FC issued an official statement through its Facebook page offering heartfelt sympathy: "Port FC expresses our deepest condolences to those who lost their lives and were injured in the violent incident at Thepsirin School, Nonthaburi province. We extend our support and strength to all affected families and the wounded."

PHUKET: Groups of Indian nationals are allegedly renting houses and other accommodation in Phuket and Krabi to use as bases for scam operations, according to a Thai MP who has called for closer monitoring of foreign groups operating in the Andaman region.

9 things I learned while travelling here as a tourist in ThailandLegacyThailand has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia with over 30 million visitors per year. Yet, political strife, pollution, petty theft, and road safety concerns tend to make tourists question whether they’ll be safe here. As a tourist who has now spent 7 weeks in Thailand, I can confidently say that I feel much safer here than at home in the United States. Yet, like any place, there are some real risks that come with unpreparedness. These are some key tips to keep in mind while you’re here.  1. Zip your bag in public

A simple and effective system to prevent petty theft. This is particularly common in big tourist destinations in Thailand like Khao San Road.  Keep your bag across your body rather than on one shoulder, and if you’re walking near the road, switch it to the side furthest from traffic. Crowded spots like night markets, the BTS and MRT during rush hour, and nightlife strips are worth the extra caution. 2. Opt for online ride-hailing Use the Grab or Bolt app to call motorbikes (or cars). Not only are they more convenient, but oftentimes they can also end up saving you money. The advantage of Grab and Bolt is the paper trail. Every trip logs the driver’s name, licence plate, and route, so if something does go wrong, there’s a record and a driver rating attached to it. You can also share your live trip with a friend or family member from within the app, which is worth doing late at night or if you’re travelling alone. Watch out for the classic “meter’s broken” line from street taxis, since it’s almost always an opening move to negotiate a price well above the metered fare. Don’t use unmetered taxis unless you have no other option, and if you insist on trying the tuktuks, make sure you agree on a price beforehand. 3. Wear a helmet on the motorbikes Over 14,000 people were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2024, according to the Department of Disease Control, and a large share of those deaths involved no helmet at all. Sometimes, that means asking the driver and even calling for a new bike if the first one doesn’t have an extra helmet. It’s well worth the extra few minutes, I promise.

While we’re here, you should also wear a mask while on the bikes. The exhaust, particularly on Bangkok city streets (or in Chiang Mai, where PM2.5 levels regularly spike), is no joke. 7-Eleven sells them for just a few dollars, and they’ll make a huge difference for your lungs. 4. Protect your skin The UV Index can reach 12 to 13, which means burns after less than ten minutes of exposure. You’ll see many Thais holding umbrellas to protect from the sun, and you’ll be better off if you join them. That UV Index holds steady even on cloudy days, but it doesn’t mean that you won’t get sunburnt. Reapply sunscreen often if you’re outside for long stretches. A light long-sleeved shirt does more for sun protection than most people expect, and it’s a lot cooler than it sounds once you’re used to Thailand’s humidity. 5. Consider sleeping without air conditioning Air conditioning (AC) dries the room while cooling it, drying out your skin, nose, and throat. Especially for those with underlying respiratory conditions, when combined with the sharp humidity contrast outside, leaving your AC on for prolonged periods while indoors can lead to a painful dry cough.

But when it’s this hot, who wants to sleep without air conditioning? If you do want the AC on overnight, a bowl of water left in the room or a cheap portable humidifier helps offset the dryness. If your room has a ceiling fan, running that alongside a slightly warmer AC setting is usually the more comfortable middle ground. 6. Look for the ice with the hole A quick way to judge how clean the ice can be in Thailand is to look for cylindrical ice with a hole through the middle. This ice is mass-produced using filtered water and is safe to consume. Other ice, the chunky, chopped variety you sometimes see at street food stalls, is more likely to be made with tap water and is worth avoiding where you can. In practice, most people eat and drink in Thailand for years without incident, but the cylinder rule is a useful habit to develop early. The same logic applies to the food itself. A busy stall with a visible queue, dishes cooked to order, and food that arrives genuinely hot is almost always a safer choice than something sitting in a tray under a heat lamp, regardless of how clean the setup looks. Furthermore, turnover is the real indicator of freshness. The stall that has been feeding office workers since 7am and runs out of everything by noon is a better sign than an empty stall with a spotless counter. 7. Drink more water than you could ever imagine possible

During both the hot season (March to May) and the wet season (May to October), temperatures can reach 35+ degrees Celcius and stay there for multiple days. April is typically the peak, and it’s easy to underestimate how much fluid you’re losing through sweat alone, especially if you’re walking around in the middle of the day. Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion, dizziness, a headache, or unusually dark urine, and treat any of them as a signal to get into the shade and rehydrate. Electrolyte sachets, sold cheaply at every pharmacy and 7-Eleven, do more for you than plain water alone if you’ve been sweating heavily.

8. A note on Thailand’s red light districts Be careful walking around Thailand’s red light districts at night. Areas like Patpong in Bangkok, Bangla Road in Phuket, and Walking Street in Pattaya are built around a commercial entertainment economy, and foreign men are the primary customer base. Walking through means being pulled in multiple directions by touts and workers all competing for attention at once, which makes it harder to stay aware of what else is happening around you. Customers and tourists in these areas in Thailand often develop a false sense of anonymity, which can make behaviour unpredictable. Disputes over services or prices occasionally escalate, so staying in a group and keeping your valuables close is sensible. You do not need to avoid red light districts entirely, but just stay aware of your surroundings and be direct if you do not want to engage with someone approaching you. Also: Prostitution in Thailand and the cost of criminalisation 9. Don’t talk negatively about the monarchy.

To be safe, just don’t talk about it at all. It’s against the law, and you could face serious penalties. This is covered under Section 112 of the Criminal Code, Thailand’s lese majeste law, which carries a penalty of three to 15 years behind bars for each offence. It applies to the king, queen, heir, and regent; it covers online posts and social media shares just as much as spoken comments, and foreigners are not exempt from it. Multiple charges can be stacked, which is why some sentences reported in the Thai press run into decades, so the safest approach really is to avoid the topic altogether, including sharing or “liking” content about it online. Overall, I can confidently say that being a tourist in Thailand feels incredibly safe, and exercising normal caution as one would at home is standard. Have an amazing trip; it truly feels like the Land of Smiles! The story 9 things I learned while travelling here as a tourist in Thailand as seen on Thaiger News.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presided over a ceremony at Government House on August 7, 2025, to award outstanding village headmen and local administrators in recognition of their dedicated service to their communities.

Anutin addressed the tragic school shooting in Nonthaburi province that morning, in which teachers and students were shot, resulting in deaths and injuries. He emphasized that such incidents cannot be allowed to happen again, as they devastate families, cause severe psychological trauma to survivors, and undermine society itself.

Anutin stated that his Interior Ministry has consistently refused to permit ordinary civilians to carry firearms since he took office three years ago. He explained that gun ownership among the general public serves no legitimate purpose and only increases the risk of tragedy when people lose rational control. "We must eliminate the tools that enable such violence," he said, noting that despite past criticism from weapons dealers, he prioritizes social safety over commercial interests.

Anutin acknowledged that previous governments lacked the parliamentary majority to amend weapons laws, but his current administration will now work to strengthen legislation for maximum public safety. He announced that the government has issued a directive—signed by both the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister—prohibiting firearm possession except for authorized government officials performing official duties.

Anutin called on village headmen and local administrators to enforce this directive strictly. "Even government officials cannot carry firearms off-duty," he stated, urging community leaders to identify and prosecute anyone illegally carrying guns in their areas without exception. He warned that allowing illegal gun ownership is like closing the barn door after the cattle have escaped, and noted that even untrained gun owners pose a greater danger than skilled ones because they may shoot indiscriminately.

Anutin expressed deep sorrow for the families of victims and all students and teachers affected by the day's shooting. He announced that his government will urgently deploy mental health teams to provide counseling and support to affected students and families. He also stated he would visit the shooting site later that day.

The Teochew Association of Thailand is inviting the public to view an exhibition of historical photographs and Teochew culture paired with a special screening of the film "A Letter to Mom," creating an emotional cinematic experience. The event has become one of the year's major cultural gatherings that film enthusiasts and art lovers should not miss. Chairman Somchai Wetchakorn of the Teochew Association of Thailand and world-renowned photographer David Lao have transformed a downtown cinema into a place of valued memory through the "Historical and Cultural Exhibition of the Teochew Community," featuring exclusive historical photographs and a 10-minute short film documenting the journeys, love, bonds, and contributions of Teochew Chinese who settled in Thailand over the past 200 years, accompanied by a special screening of "A Letter to Mom" at SF World Cinema, 7th floor of CentralWorld shopping mall.

The event atmosphere was warm, with Somchai Wetchakorn welcoming distinguished guests and national leaders from both government and business sectors, including Culture Minister Sabidah Taiyaset, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jianwei, and other prominent figures who gave speeches expressing their joy. The exhibition's highlight is the display of 103 carefully selected historical photographs sourced from century-old photographs and documents, allowing attendees to experience the perspectives and lifestyles of the Teochew community of the past, including traditional tea culture, ancient teahouses, elegant traditions, and exquisite Teochew cuisine that has become part of modern Thai life.

Beyond the valuable photographs on display, there is also a special 10-minute short film created by David Lao that chronicles the history of Chinese diaspora and Teochew immigrants who came to settle in Thailand over 200 years ago, showing their struggles, perseverance, and contributions to Thailand's economy, society, and culture, as well as the long-standing relationship between Teochew Chinese and the Thai monarchy during the reign of King Taksin. The special screening of "A Letter to Mom," a heartwarming story of the year that tells of a Teochew family and transmits language, culture, and intergenerational memories, serves as the event's other major highlight.