BURI RAM : Three teenagers were shot, one fatally, by a security guard when a group of teens armed with swords and machetes stormed a nursing aide training school yesterday, police say.
The victims were among 10 blade-wielding teenagers wearing hoods who tried to get into Buri Ram Karn Bariban School yesterday morning during an orientation for new students.
The school staff and students ran for cover while a security guard fired shots at the attackers. The shooting forced the attacking teens to flee in a pickup truck.
Police found four blades and several spent bullets at the scene. Kwanfa Srinarak, 26, the school's security guard, was arrested and charged for shooting the attackers, police said.
Watcharapol Thongsiri, the school director, suspected he was the intended target of the attack.
Police launched a manhunt, setting up checkpoints and alerting hospitals for wounded suspects. Some of the injured showed up at Buri Ram Regional Hospital in a pickup truck and were arrested.
Police said a 16-year-old boy was shot in his left arm, while a 15-year-old boy was hit in the right thigh. Another teen, identified as Beem, was shot in the chest and died later.
Police said some of the other attackers turned themselves in to police. Most of them were 15-16 years old.
Mr Watcharapol said he believed the attack was the work of teens from a rival school.
He said he had been knifed in the school compound in July last year.