The death toll in a massacre inflicted on a nursery in northeastern Thailand has risen to 36 — including 24 children and one pregnant woman, according to a statement from the Royal Thai Police on Thursday and local officials.
The suspect first attacked the child care center, and then targeted several bystanders on his journey home. After getting home, he killed his wife and 2-year-old stepson before killing himself, according to local police chief Maj. General Paisan Luesomboon.
CNN does not include the suspect in its death toll count.
At least 10 more people are injured, with six who are “seriously injured,” according to a statement from the Royal Thai Police.
“Regarding the motivation, the police have not ruled out any possibilities, it could be from personal stress, or a hallucination from drugs, we have ordered a blood test,” the statement added.
A previous statement from Thailand’s prime minister had referred to the incident as a mass shooting, but police say many of the victims died from “stabbing wounds.”
“After we have seen the wounds of the deaths, most of the deaths are from stabbing wounds. I have told you earlier that he had several guns. It turned out he had only about 1-2 guns,” Luesomboon told CNN.
The children were taking their lunchtime nap when the massacre occurred, according to several police officials CNN spoke with.
A pregnant teacher at the nursery who was in the room with the children was among the victims who died, according to another teacher who allegedly witnessed the attack. She spoke to local media Khom Chad Luek TV.
Luesomboon confirmed that a pregnant woman was among the dead in a statement to CNN.