A 15-year-old student was detained after allegedly firing eight shots at a school in Kamphaeng Phet province in Thailand on Sept 2, prompting teachers and students to flee or take shelter as classes were changing.

The incident occurred at about 2pm. No injuries were reported.

Police and rescue volunteers moved into the school and brought the situation under control before taking the suspect into custody.

Initial accounts differed over the direction of the gunfire. Information released by the school said the suspect fired eight shots into the air, while separate reports from the scene described bullet damage to a teacher’s car and a glass door.

Officers found spent cartridge cases near a security booth at the entrance and additional spent and unfired ammunition near a physical education building.

A school security guard said the suspect entered through the front gate carrying a 9mm handgun and fired a shot that narrowly missed him before continuing further into the grounds.

A physical education teacher said he heard the gunfire while students were changing classes and concentrated on getting students away from the area.

When he came face to face with the suspect, the teacher helped move other students into an auditorium, where they were able to shelter safely.

Police, rescue workers and education officials subsequently confirmed that no students, teachers or other people at the school had been injured.

Kamphaeng Phet Governor Chatip Rujanaseri, Deputy Governor Suwanit Suriyakul Na Ayutthaya, police, military personnel and other government agencies later arrived to oversee security and provide support to parents waiting for information.

The suspect had not attended classes since Aug 21 because he had been placed on leave while receiving treatment for depression. A medical follow-up appointment had been scheduled for Sept 4.

The school had already become aware of a potential war...