• An 18-year-old gunman opened fire at a school in Hat Yai, Thailand.
• All hostages were freed, and law enforcement detained the suspect after a standoff.
• At least three individuals were injured, including a school principal and a female student.
• The motive for the attack remains unclear but may involve a personal grievance.
• This incident underscores ongoing concerns regarding gun violence in Thailand.

An 18-year-old gunman entered Patongprathankiriwat School in Hat Yai, Thailand, on Wednesday, where he discharged a firearm and took hostages. Authorities reported that all hostages have been freed, and the suspect has been detained following a two-hour standoff, according to Indiatimes and Channel News Asia.

The violent incident occurred between 4:30 and 4:45 PM local time, resulting in at least three injuries. Among the wounded are the school principal and a female student, while another student was injured after jumping from a building in panic. The gunman allegedly sought a specific teacher and shot a staff member upon not finding them, as reported by BBC and Channel News Asia.

This incident follows recent high-profile shootings that highlight the prevalent issue of gun violence in Thailand, where ownership is relatively common and instances of mass shootings have occurred in the past. For example, a former police officer previously committed an attack that resulted in 36 deaths, mostly children, at a kindergarten in northeastern Thailand, according to BBC.