In Thailand, in the city of Korat, a serviceman of one of the units of the country's land forces fired. The local police reported that the man shot his commander and two more people in a military camp, after which he hijacked an HMMWV SUV, which he drove around the city, firing at passers-by with an automatic rifle.

Then the attacker, who, according to media reports, turned out to be a senior sergeant (according to some information - corporal) Chakrapant Thomma, stopped near the shopping center Terminal 21, where he started shooting at visitors. The local Thai PBS channel also reported that it fired at a shopping center with a hand grenade launcher, which caused a fire on the ground floor, which was later put out. The man went into the building, where on the fourth floor he took about 16 people hostage.

Local media also reported that the soldier was broadcast live on Facebook. The publication Khaosod notes that the man posted several pictures, including a selfie with a gun, as well as a video in which he stated that he was "tired" and "can no longer move his finger." The shooter also complained that he had a cramp and asked if he should give up. His account was later blocked.

Minister of Health Anutin Chanivirakul said that as a result of the attack, 20 people were killed, at least 30 were injured.

The Prime Minister of Thailand, General Prayut Chan-Ocha, after reports of the incident, instructed the police and military to detain the shooter.

“I’m closely observing the situation. He instructed the police and the military to detain the shooter in the near future, ”RIA Novosti quoted the Thai Prime Minister as saying.

In turn, the police blocked the car traffic in the area of ​​the shopping center and asked citizens to immediately leave the scene. The mother of the shooter arrived at the shopping center building to persuade him to surrender to the authorities.

“For our mother, Sergeant Chakraphan, our troops and police went immediately as soon as it became clear that he was the shooter. They followed her to Chayyaphum province and now brought here to Korat to the shopping center. She will try to persuade her son to surrender, ”said one of the servicemen who knew the attacker.

In addition, he described Thomm as a calm and executive person, noting that "he does not know what happened to him." The relatives of the man made similar statements.

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The Thai Ministry of Information recommended that television, radio, and online media minimize the broadcast of live coverage of law enforcement actions around the mall in connection with the start of the assault.

At the same time, the country's Ministry of Health urged residents to donate blood for the victims.

One of the shooter's colleagues said that, in addition to the SUV, he stole a large number of weapons from the unit.

“He has four automatic rifles, four pistols, more than 700 rounds for rifles and pistols, grenades for a hand grenade launcher and underbarrel grenade launcher, hand grenades and a mine that he could put on himself. I don’t know how many weapons and ammunition he took with him to the store building, something should have remained in the car, he wouldn’t have taken everything on himself, ”he said.

Before the hostage rescue operation began, servicemen took out more than a thousand visitors hiding from the attacker. According to local television channels, people continued to leave the building even an hour after the start of the operation.

The special forces examined all four floors of the main part of the building of the shopping center, but did not find any shooter or hostages. It is noted that the building of the shopping center consists of several parts, including a multi-level parking lot.

The whereabouts of the attacker is currently unknown. His motives are not yet clear; he made no demands.

Vladimir Pronin, head of the consular department of the Russian Embassy in Thailand, said that there were no Russian citizens among the victims of the shooting in Korat.

He added that Karat is not a tourist city. As Pronin explained, "relatively close to it, 100 kilometers away, there is the Khao Yai National Park, where Russian tourists sometimes travel from Bangkok, but they do not call in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima (another name for Karat. - RT )."

“There are no Russians living or working on a long-term basis in this city, either,” he said.