The government has praised a teacher for his bravery during a fight with a knife-wielding man who broke into his school in Chaiyaphum’s Khon San district on Wednesday.

Thawatchai Duangthum suffered injuries to his hands and arms when he encountered the assailant, who ran towards the teachers and students of Ban Namphu Hin Lat School. About 100 students were attending a flag-raising ceremony in the morning when the incident occurred.

CCTV footage reveals that Thawatchai was standing near the rows of students when the man, who arrived at the school on a motorcycle, ran towards them. The students fled in panic and Thawatchai was seen protecting them. The footage did not, however, capture the teacher’s confrontation with the assailant.

Deputy government spokesperson Kaenika Oonchit stated that, without the teacher’s brave intervention, students and others might have been injured or killed.

The government will place a greater focus on the safety of students, teachers and other educational personnel in schools nationwide, she added.

After the attack, the assailant retreated to his house located in front of the school, and police spent about an hour persuading him to surrender. Medical records reveal that he has mental health problems.