Ex-Thai MP arrested for killing official in country's second deadly shooting in three days

A Thai official has been killed after a gunman opened fire inside a local government office - in the country's second deadly shooting in three days.

Police said the suspect in Monday's attack outside Thailand's capital Bangkok was former local MP Chalong Riewrang who has been arrested.

Officers said he fired at Thongchai Yenprasert, chairman of the Provincial Administrative Organisation in Nonthaburi, in a disagreement over borrowed money.

Mr Thongchai suffered critical injuries after being shot in the face and neck and died in hospital, officials said.

The victim's driver was shot in the arm and is in a stable condition.

The shooting happened around 11am local time (5am UK time) at the offices of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation.

Police Lieutenant General Wattana Yijin said the "motive was personal" and the suspect had admitted carrying out the shooting.

Chalong told reporters at a local police station he was arguing with Mr Thongchai over money he had lent him. He said he followed Mr Thongchai to his car before drawing his weapon.

He said he did not intend to shoot Mr Thongchai, but the driver also drew a gun and pointed at him, prompting him to open fire.

"I wanted to apologise to the people of Nonthaburi," Chalong said. "I had no intention. We were friends and I thought we could talk it out, but he wouldn't talk to me."

It comes after a 14-year-old boy killed nine people in a school shooting on Friday - in what was Thailand's worst mass shooting since 2022.

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In the wake of last week's deadly attack, there have been calls for stronger gun controls in the country - which has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in southeast Asia.

According to a 2017 estimate by the Small Arms Survey, Thailand had 10.3 million firearms in civilian possession, equivalent to around 15 guns per 100 residents.

The Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered tougher enforcement against people carrying guns in public and said police would set up checkpoints as part of a crackdown.

That would include tightening controls on the possession, carrying and use of firearms, he said, adding: "No one has the right to carry a firearm, especially in a public place."

(c) Sky News 2026: Ex-Thai MP arrested for killing official in country's second deadly shooting in three days