A tragic mass shooting unfolded at Bangkok’s Or Tor Kor Market on Monday, leaving five people dead and two others injured. The gunman, who police have identified as a Thai national, later took his own life at the scene, according to local authorities.
The victims included four security guards and one market worker. Two market sellers sustained injuries during the attack, which has shaken the local community and drawn national attention.
Police Lieutenant Siam Boonsom told Thai media that the suspect had ongoing disputes with the market’s security team, which likely triggered the violent act. However, he was quick to emphasize that the shooting was not connected to Thailand’s long-standing tensions with Cambodia, dismissing any political or international motives.
The Or Tor Kor Market, located near Bangkok’s Chatuchak area, is renowned for its high-quality fruits, seafood, and other fresh produce. It draws both locals and tourists and is considered one of the city’s premier markets.
Although gun violence is not an everyday occurrence in Thailand, the country has experienced a worrying rise in deadly shootings in recent years. In 2023, a 14-year-old boy opened fire at a luxury shopping mall in central Bangkok, killing two and injuring five. In 2022, a former police officer carried out one of the deadliest massacres in Thai history, killing at least 37 people, most of them children, at a childcare center in Nong Bua Lamphu province. And in 2020, a rogue soldier killed 29 people in a mass shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia, though the government strictly regulates the acquisition and possession of firearms. Despite these laws, recent tragedies highlight ongoing challenges in preventing gun-related violence.
Authorities say investigations into the Or Tor Kor shooting are ongoing, and they are reviewing CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts to better understand how the incident unfolded.
Monday’s attack has once again ignited national conversations around gun control, mental health, and workplace conflict resolution. For now, the nation mourns yet another senseless act of violence.
