The 14-year-old suspected of carrying out a deadly school shooting near Bangkok had shown an interest in firearms for more than a year and had viewed violent material on social media, Thai police said on Sunday.
The disclosure came as authorities continued investigating Friday’s attack, in which the teenager allegedly killed his grandparents at their home before fatally shooting six people at his school and then taking his own life.
Atthapol Anusit, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, said witness interviews indicated that the teenager had developed an interest in learning about firearms around one to two years ago.
Investigators also learned that a teacher had confiscated an air gun from the student last year.
Police said the teenager had apparently used social media to learn about firearms. An examination of his personal computer found that he had viewed violent online content, although investigators have so far found no evidence that he had practised shooting.
Authorities have interviewed 17 witnesses as part of the investigation. Evidence recovered from the crime scenes included a firearm, spent cartridge cases and a knife found in the teenager’s bag, as well as his computer.
The Thai government has meanwhile pledged to introduce new school safety protocols following the attack as investigators continue working to establish the circumstances and motive behind the shooting.