Thai schools hold active shooter drills after deadly school attack

Thai schools conducted active shooter drills on August 19, as authorities moved to strengthen security measures two weeks after a 14-year-old opened fire at a school, killing at least eight people.

At Surasamontree School in Bangkok, students took part in a “run, hide, fight” exercise, with a police officer dressed in black portraying a mock attacker armed with a handgun and an assault rifle loaded with blanks, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

Students ran away from the gunman and hid under tables and behind locked doors, while others used furniture to barricade entrances.

In one scenario, students tackled the attacker and pinned him down after he entered a classroom.

The drills came after Education Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong signed a directive on August 10 requiring schools to develop security plans and rehearse emergency response procedures.

“Every school is responding because this is a new-age threat that can happen anywhere,” said Visitsak Vipattanamongkol, superintendent of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit at the Patrol and Special Operations Division of the police.

The school has also stepped up daily security checks involving metal detectors and bag searches. Teachers demonstrated the use of handheld detectors and displayed sharp objects confiscated from students.

By Jeyhun Aghazada