A 14-year-old boy who killed eight people in a shooting rampage at a school in Bang Kruai, a district north of Bangkok, had been consuming violent content online for around two years, Thai police have confirmed. An examination of the teenager's computer revealed he had regularly watched violent videos on social media platforms, through which investigators believe he learned how to handle firearms. "On his computer we found that he was watching violent videos on social networks — it is there that his interest in guns was sparked over the past two or so years, where he learned how to use a weapon," said Atthapol Anusit, a deputy police commander for the greater Bangkok region.

On Friday, the teenager first shot and killed his grandparents, with whom he had been living since his parents' divorce, before making his way to his secondary school and opening fire. Six more people died there: three teachers, the deputy principal, a school secretary, and a 12-year-old girl who later succumbed to her injuries. More than twenty others were wounded. The attacker subsequently took his own life in one of the classrooms. Police recovered a firearm, spent cartridges, and a knife from his bag at the scene. Witnesses told investigators the boy had shown a growing fascination with guns in recent years; last year, a teacher had already confiscated an air rifle he had brought to school.

The full motive remains unclear, and police say they have so far interviewed 17 witnesses while continuing to examine the boy's phone and computer. Thailand's prime minister has suggested the teenager may have been suffering from school-related stress, noting that his grandmother — a former teacher — had reportedly been strict with him about his studies.

The attack has prompted swift pledges of action from Thai authorities. The prime minister announced plans for new gun laws that would ban the carrying of firearms in public, with exceptions for government officials. The Ministry of Education separately outlined measures to prevent future incidents, including a screening system to identify students with psychological difficulties and refer them to medical specialists, as well as a national campaign against bullying. Thailand has long grappled with relatively high rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia, and Friday's attack has intensified the debate over how access to weapons and exposure to violent online content intersect, particularly among young people.