29-1-2024 (BANGKOK) Tragedy struck at Nak Nava Upatham School on Soi Patanakarn 26 when a stabbing incident took place, leaving one student dead. The incident occurred at 8:30 am, shortly after the morning assembly, according to school staff.
Following the news of the stabbing, all classes were canceled as concerned parents hurried to the school to take their children home. The Klong Tan Police Station received a report about the fatal stabbing at 8:40 am.
Eyewitnesses, including friends of the victim and the alleged attacker, recounted that the victim was teasing the boy as they entered their second-floor classroom after singing the national anthem during the morning assembly. The alleged attacker, who was typically quiet, suddenly brandished a fruit knife and stabbed the victim in the neck.
In an attempt to escape, the injured boy ran downstairs, but the attacker pursued him and stabbed him again on the right side of his neck. The victim collapsed on the basketball stadium floor. The school staff swiftly came to the victim’s aid, trying to keep him conscious, while others restrained the attacker.
School personnel revealed that the boy with special needs was generally quiet, and his classmates often teased him. They also clarified that the victim and the attacker were not close friends, leaving them perplexed as to the cause of the altercation.
Despite the arrival of rescue staff from the Poh Tech Tung Foundation, their attempts to resuscitate the victim were unsuccessful. The boy was immediately rushed to Vibharam General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The severity of the incident prompted Pol Maj-General Witthawat Chinkham, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 5, to personally oversee the investigation and arrive at the scene.
The alleged attacker was subsequently taken to the Klong Tan Police Station for questioning, with his parents and social workers from the Social Development and Human Security Ministry present during the interrogation.
Amarin TV reported that some parents were aware that the alleged attacker had special needs and had cautioned their children against teasing or bullying him.
