Bangkok Market Shooting Leaves Six Dead, Including Gunman; Motive Under Investigation
A tragic mass shooting at the Or Tor Kor Market in Bangkok on Monday, July 28, 2025, resulted in six fatalities, including the perpetrator, and two injuries.
Incident Details:
Time and Location: The horrific event unfolded around 12:30 PM (ICT) at the bustling Or Tor Kor fresh-food market, located in Bangkok's Chatuchak district.
Victims: Five individuals were fatally shot: four security guards and one market vendor. Additionally, two women sustained injuries and were promptly transported to a local hospital for medical attention.
Perpetrator: The gunman, identified as Noi Praidaen, a 61-year-old former security guard from Khong district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, ended his own life on a bench within the market following the rampage. He was reportedly armed with a 9mm CZ Shadow 2 handgun.
Sequence of Events: The shooter arrived at the market shortly before 1:00 PM local time and began indiscriminately firing multiple rounds. CCTV footage captured the chaos as individuals desperately scrambled for safety amidst the sound of gunshots. Another video reportedly showed the perpetrator brandishing a handgun. After the initial fusillade, the gunman briefly left the immediate market area before taking his own life.
Motive and Ongoing Investigation:
Preliminary Motive: Police are actively investigating the motive behind the attack. Initial reports suggest a personal vendetta or a long-standing conflict with a security guard identified as "Mr. Nan" at the market, dating back to 2020. This dispute reportedly stemmed from an incident where the perpetrator's car, parked while he dropped off his wife to sell dried food, was allegedly slashed.
Broader Investigation: National police chief Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet has issued directives for a swift and comprehensive investigation. This includes meticulous collection of all evidence and extensive review of CCTV footage from the crime scene and surrounding areas to definitively determine the motive and explore any potential wider connections.
No Link to Border Clashes: While authorities are exploring all possibilities, no direct link has been confirmed between this incident and the ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.
No Tourists Affected: Police have confirmed that no tourists were among the casualties or injured in the shooting.
Context of Gun Violence in Thailand:
Thailand has a notably high rate of gun ownership and firearms-related deaths compared to many other Asian nations, despite its generally restrictive gun control laws. This latest tragedy adds to a distressing pattern of mass shootings in the country in recent years. Previous high-profile incidents include:
October 2023: A teenage assailant killed two people in a mass shooting at a luxury shopping mall in central Bangkok.
October 2022: A former police officer committed a horrific act, killing 36 people, including 22 children, in a gun and knife attack at a nursery in eastern Thailand.
February 2020: A disgruntled army soldier went on a rampage, killing 29 people, primarily at a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima.
