On August 19, large-scale shooting-response drills were held at a number of schools in Thailand, organized against the backdrop of tightened security measures following a tragedy in which a 14-year-old student opened fire, killing several people. According to Reuters, at Surasamontree Secondary School in Bangkok, students rehearsed the “run, hide, fight” scenario, facing off against a police officer in black clothing who portrayed an armed attacker wielding an unloaded weapon. Students fled from the “shooter” and then hid under tables in locked classrooms, while others blocked the entrances with furniture; in some cases, groups of students coordinated their actions to apprehend and neutralize the intruder after he breached the room.
Ministry Directive and a “New-Generation Threat”
The events were carried out in accordance with a directive signed on August 10 by Thailand’s Education Minister Praset Jantaratangtong, which requires schools to develop security plans and regularly conduct emergency-response drills. As Visit Sak Wipattanamongkol, head of the explosive-ordnance disposal unit of the patrol and special police, stated, shootouts represent a “new-generation threat that can happen anywhere.” In his words, all schools are on heightened alert, adjusting their plans and preparing for students to be able to respond to incidents and threats of any kind.
Backpack Checks and Metal Detectors at the Entrance
At Surasamontree School, daily security checks have also been tightened: metal detectors are used at the entrance, and students’ backpacks are inspected. Teachers use handheld detectors to confiscate sharp objects that students may carry. School principal Onicha Kachana noted that the drills help students respond appropriately to emergencies: “I was impressed and got great enjoyment from them, because these drills gave students the knowledge and understanding of how to minimize the damage from serious situations.” Following the events of August 7–8, the Thai government instructed schools across the country to strengthen security measures, including the inspection of students’ backpacks, bags, and pencil cases. According to Suparong Sawangngamwong, a teacher at Sawasdee Wittaya School in Bangkok, the search of personal belongings helps parents feel more at ease, knowing that their children are in a safe place.
Conflicting Data
Open sources disagree on the number of victims of the original shootout. Materials citing Reuters state that the shooting carried out by a 14-year-old student killed “at least nine people.” Meanwhile, the headline of a publication on the 7kanal.co.il portal reports “seven killed and 15 wounded.” The discrepancy in figures may be explained by differences in the timing of data collection, a recount of the injured, or the use of different primary sources; at the time of preparing this material, no single agreed-upon official figure confirmed by all parties is provided in the available sources. The fact that drills are being conducted and checks are being tightened in Thai schools is confirmed by several independent publications.
Context: Why Thailand Has Strengthened School Security
The drills are part of the authorities’ systemic response to an incident that exposed the vulnerability of educational institutions to “new-generation” threats. The combination of practical “run, hide, fight” scenario training, regular searches of personal belongings, and the installation of metal detectors is intended to form behavioral reflexes in students in the face of a real threat and to reduce potential damage. Experts and police representatives emphasize that the readiness of staff and students to respond quickly is a key factor in minimizing the consequences of such incidents, and that schools are moving to a state of permanent heightened alert.
