7-10-2023 (BANGKOK) Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has offered reassurances that safety measures will be intensified to rebuild the confidence of foreign tourists following the shooting incident at Siam Paragon. The prime minister addressed concerns raised by Chinese media regarding the incident, which resulted in the death of two foreign nationals—a Chinese citizen and a person from Myanmar—and left five others injured, including a Chinese national, a Lao national, and three Thai individuals.
Prime Minister Srettha emphasized that Chinese visitors are always welcome in Thailand and affirmed that security measures will be strengthened to prevent any future incidents. He also highlighted the government’s commitment to tightening gun control regulations to restrict easy access to firearms.
The prime minister made these remarks while responding to media inquiries during the 2nd Thailand Climate Action Conference (TCAC) held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, where he presided over the opening event.
Meanwhile, the Situation Command Centre (SCC), established to handle the aftermath of the shooting, conducted a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide updates on the investigation and the financial assistance being extended to the victims. Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee, who led the briefing, affirmed the government’s determination to ensure justice for those affected by the shooting.
Mr. Jakkapong revealed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in close contact with the embassies of the affected foreign nationals to ensure that the families of the deceased and injured receive prompt assistance. He also mentioned that the prime minister had sent a letter to Beijing expressing condolences and would be visiting China later in the month to reaffirm the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.
The SCC announced that the government would provide compensation of 1.2 million baht to each of the families of the deceased. Additionally, Siam Paragon shopping mall pledged an additional 5 million baht to each family.
As for the five individuals who were injured and subsequently discharged from the hospital, the government will offer them 50,000 baht in compensation, while the shopping mall will provide an additional 300,000 baht. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that Giffarine Skyline Unity Co, a Thai direct sales company, has donated 1 million baht to the government for the purpose of compensating the victims of this widely publicized shooting incident.
Following the shooting spree, a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged with premeditated murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, carrying a weapon illegally, and discharging a firearm in a public place, according to the police. On Thursday, three men were also arrested for selling the weapon and bullets to the teenager.
Meanwhile, the parents of the arrested teenager issued an apology letter on Friday. In the letter, the father expressed deep regret and offered profound apologies to the victims, the families of the deceased, and the injured individuals affected by the recent shooting incident at Siam Paragon. The family expressed deep sadness and shock over the incident and accepted full responsibility. They pledged to cooperate fully with the police, government officials, and any relevant agencies during the legal proceedings and expressed their willingness to support all mitigation efforts and initiatives aimed at addressing the repercussions of this event.
