A gunman was arrested by Thai authorities on Wednesday afternoon after opening fire and holding students and teachers hostage at a public school in southern Thailand’s Songkhla province.

The incident occurred at the Patongprathankiriwat School in Hat Yai shortly after classes had been dismissed, prompting a swift and coordinated response from police and emergency services.

The attacker, described by officials as an eighteen-year-old male, entered the school carrying a firearm and fired several shots, injuring at least three people, including the school’s principal and a student.

Another student was hurt while fleeing the scene by jumping from a building during the chaos.

Authorities surrounded the building and evacuated all students and staff before taking the suspect into custody, ending the standoff without further loss of life.

Police said all hostages, including teachers and pupils, were safely freed during the operation.

The suspect was wounded by police during the confrontation but was apprehended and is now in custody.

Emergency personnel transported the wounded to local hospitals for treatment, and the situation was declared under control as investigators began to piece together the motive and circumstances surrounding the attack.

The motive behind the assault has not yet been publicly determined by authorities, who are continuing their investigation.

The incident has drawn widespread attention in Thailand, a country that has experienced several high-profile shootings in recent years despite gun violence remaining relatively rare overall.