Their Majesties the King and Queen have conveyed their condolences to the families of the victims killed in a mass shooting by an ex-policeman in Nong Bua Lam Phu on Thursday and offered medical assistance to those who are injured.

National police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak  Kittiprapas said at least 38 people, mostly young children at a day–care center in Naklang district, died in the shooting spree and another 10 people were injured.  

President of the Privy Council Gen Surayud Chulanont along with three other privy councilors yesterday visited some of the victims being treated at Nong Bua Lam Phu Hospital.  

They also visited the family of a three-year-old boy who was seriously injured in the shooting and was recovering from a brain surgery.

The privy councilors personally conveyed a message of condolences from Their Majesties to the families of the victims of Thailand’s worst mass shooting.  Their Majesties also offered to take all the injured under the royal patronage and to sponsor a royal cremation for all the killed victims.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, meanwhile, said he was saddened by the incident. “This is something that should never have happened,” he said.

The prime minister also ordered all government agencies to fly the national flag at half–mast today as a sign of mourning for the shooting victims.

The killing spree was carried out by Pol Sgt Panya Kamlarb, who was discharged as a policeman at a local police station on charges of drug abuse earlier this year. Police said he was apparently under the influence of drug when he barged into the day-care center and began the massacre.  

Panya later escaped back to his home and killed his wife and son before committing suicide.

Police chief Damrongsak said Panya had a history of drug use.