On Thursday, a former police officer in Thailand opened fire and used a knife to kill more than 30 people, a majority of whom were children. He began his mass murder rampage at a childcare center in the afternoon, continued shooting as he fled the scene and returned home to shoot his wife, his child and himself.

Police authorities say that the former policeman had been fired from his job, in June, for drug use. They also confirmed that he killed himself after killing his family as there was a manhunt after the attack that took place in Nong Bua Lamphu province, in Thailand.

At least 22 children had been killed, some of whom were about two-years old, by the 34-year old former cop. About twelve persons who were injured, were taken to the district hospital in Nong Bua Lamphu. The mass shooting occurred in the town of Utthai Sawan, in the district.

Reuters reported that Jidapa Boonsom said that the shooter had arrived around lunchtime and began shooting four or five officials, at the childcare center. The local official, who was working nearby, said that she and others thought that the sounds were due to fireworks. She also told the outlet that the man had forcefully entered a locked room, where children were sleeping and opened fire.

⚡️School shooting in Thailand, at least 31 killed. Mostly kids. pic.twitter.com/Pr5mGvFRP0

– War Monitor (@WarfareReports) October 6, 2022

Police officers, who arrived at the scene of the mass shooting, were shocked at the horrifying scene. Bodies of adults and children, some of them very young, were lying scattered both inside and outside the building.

Police have named the attacker as a local man called Panya Kamrab. He had been a police lieutenant colonel till last year, when he was dismissed for drug use. He had reportedly appeared in court, on Thursday, for charges that were related to the use of as well as the probable sale of methamphetamine.

The verdict on his charge was expected to be delivered, on Friday. However, before this, he shot and killed more than 30 people, as of now reportedly 37, the majority of whom were children, his family as well as himself, for reasons unclear.

Thailand’s Thairath TV reported that a teacher, who survived the attack, said that the cop seemed polite, when he dropped his child at the nursery. No motive has been attributed for the attack.

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My wife send me this picture from Issarn of the School shooting… 2 of the teachers died, 1 teacher was 8 months pregnant & some of d kids in this photo killed 😭😭😭 #Thailand #กราดยิงหนองบัวลําภู this is insanity ..this is crazy pic.twitter.com/kx7zVAFwcc

– Ricardo EL Toro (@Richardo_ElToro) October 6, 2022