YALA - A policeman is being hunted after opening fire with an assault rifle at guests attending a farewell party of a fellow officer in Bannang Sata district on Tuesday night, killing two policemen and wounding 14 other people.
The shooting, behind Batu Tamong police station in tambon Tham Thalu around 7.45pm on Tuesday, sent the guests, mostly policemen and their families, hiding under tables or fleeing in panic.
Pol Capt Jariyapat Sukchum, a deputy chief investigator at Than Tho police station, said two policemen were killed and a number of people were wounded.
Thai media reported Pol Cpl Hassapol Soprakhon, attached to Batu Tamong police station and one of the guests, fled after firing an M-16 rifle indiscriminately at the party-goers. The reports said two policemen were killed. Nine other police were wounded, along with five civilians, four of them women.
The injured were rushed to Than Tho police station. Most of the victims were police attached to Batu Tamong police station in Bannang Sata district.
The slain officers were named as Pol Capt Natthawat Churat, 39, deputy crime suppression chief at Batu Tamong, and Pol Snr Sgt Maj Sayant Phettem, 44.
Police cordoned off the crime scene, in front of the police living quarters in the compound of Batu Pamong police station. Forensic investigators were examining the area.
The gunman was being hunted.
Authorities did not say what drove the gunman to open fire. Thai media speculated it was stress related to family problems and the rejection of his request for a transfer out of the restive southern province.