Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin Pledges Stricter Gun Control After Bangkok Siam Paragon Mall Attack

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has announced plans for more stringent gun control legislation in the wake of a shooting at Bangkok's upscale Siam Paragon shopping centre. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, saw a 14-year-old open fire, killing two individuals and injuring five others before being apprehended by police.

The deceased have been identified as a Chinese national and a Myanmar citizen. The perpetrator, whose identity has not been fully released, reportedly used a modified blank-firing pistol in the attack.

Mr. Thavisin's government now faces pressure to address the pervasive issue of illegal firearms and the ease with which such weapons can be acquired or adapted. The pledge for stricter controls comes less than a year after a mass shooting at a nursery in northeastern Thailand, which left 36 people dead, including 24 children. That attack, perpetrated by a former police officer, highlighted significant shortcomings in the nation's gun laws and enforcement.

This latest tragedy underscores the persistent challenge Thailand faces in curbing gun violence, often fuelled by a substantial black market for weapons and lax regulation of legal firearm ownership.