The Chinese Embassy in Bangkok issued a statement today (Wednesday) confirming that one Chinese national was killed and another injured in the shooting at Siam Paragon shopping mall yesterday.
The embassy said that, when it learned about the shooting, it immediately activated its emergency protocols, to monitor the incident and coordinate with Thai authorities by sending consular officials to the mall and to visit the injured in hospital. The injured Chinese national, it said, is in a stable condition.
The embassy also said that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara had called Chinese Ambassador Han Zhiqiang to express their condolences, on behalf of the Thai government, over the death of a Chinese citizen and expressed concern for the injured.
Both promised to expedite the investigation into the shooting and to boost measures to ensure safety for Chinese nationals when visiting Thailand.
Meanwhile, Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) president Chamnan Srisawat said that the shootings will inevitably impact Thai tourism in the short term but, in the longer term, the government must improve public safety at all tourist destinations.
The management of Siam Paragon mall also expressed condolences to the families of the dead and injured and promised to provide compensation and cover their medical expenses.
It said that one of its security guards is among the five injured, when he tried to intervene to protect shoppers during the shooting spree, and that the management places great importance on public safety at the mall.
The National Human Rights Commission issued a statement today as well, urging the media to exercise caution in their presentation of information or images about the suspect, who is a minor, and his family, to avoid arousing public hatred against them without regard for their right to privacy in accordance with the Constitution.
