Hat Yai School Shooting: Police Apprehend Gunman and Secure All Hostages

Brickinfo News Agency – An 18-year-old gunman was taken into custody on Wednesday evening after storming Patong Prathan Khiriwat School in Hat Yai, Songkhla, where he opened fire and held several students hostage. The violent incident, which began during the late afternoon, resulted in injuries to the school principal and triggered a massive security lockdown before tactical units successfully secured the campus and rescued all remaining hostages.

The crisis unfolded at approximately 4:45 PM on February 11, 2026, when the suspect entered the school grounds reportedly searching for a specific teacher. Authorities identified the gunman as the older brother of a female student currently enrolled at the institution. Early reports from the scene indicated that the suspect, who has a prior criminal record involving firearms, fired multiple shots upon arrival, wounding the school principal. The injured administrator was immediately evacuated and transported to Songklanagarind Hospital (PSU Hospital) for emergency medical treatment.

As the situation escalated into a hostage standoff, local law enforcement cordoned off the surrounding area to prevent further casualties. Police General Kitrat Phanphet, the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, took direct oversight of the crisis by issuing urgent directives to the Songkhla Provincial Police and the Provincial Police Region 9. He ordered officers to adhere strictly to tactical protocols to minimize risks to those trapped inside the building.

During the height of the operation, the Commissioner-General emphasized the necessity of a cautious approach, stating that “the safety of the teachers and all students must be the highest priority in this operation.” This directive guided the tactical units as they navigated the campus to isolate the shooter from the student body.

By 6:35 PM, specialized tactical units moved in to neutralize the threat, successfully apprehending the suspect without further gunfire or injury to the hostages. Following the arrest, police confirmed that all students and staff members held by the gunman were safe and accounted for. The suspect was transported to a local precinct for interrogation while forensic teams began processing the school grounds for evidence.

The Royal Thai Police are currently conducting a comprehensive investigation to determine the specific motive behind the attack and how the suspect gained access to the campus. While the immediate danger has passed, the school remains under police supervision as part of the ongoing criminal inquiry into the shooting and subsequent hostage situation.