Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn visits hospital treating those wounded in nursery shooting
- The king visited the hospital where he is expected to meet survivors of Thursday’s attack
- Ex-policeman Panya Khamrab opened fire on the nursery in Nong Bua Lam Phu province before later killing his wife and child, and taking his own life
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Friday visited a hospital treating those wounded in a gun and knife rampage by a sacked policeman that left 37 people dead, ending a day of grief and mourning by relatives.
The king is expected to meet survivors of Thursday’s attack, one of the worst mass killings in Thai history, in a rare public interaction for the monarch, who is officially regarded as a semidivine figurehead.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha had earlier laid flowers at the nursery in rural northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province and handed out compensation cheques to grieving families.
Thailand has begun mourning one of its deadliest mass killings, with flags on government buildings flying at half-mast.
Former police officer Panya Khamrab stormed the children’s nursery armed with a knife and gun before later killing his wife and child, and taking his own life.
Overnight rescuers delivered coffins to a hospital at Udon Thani and autopsies are scheduled for Friday morning.
