The school in Nonthaburi province is a local branch of the renowned Debsirin School, which in Thailand is widely associated with educational prestige. The Debsirin School, founded in Bangkok in 1885, is one of Thailand’s top secondary schools with branches across the country. Another student told Reuters that he had thought the sound of gunshots were firecrackers going off, or someone banging an object. “There were many shots: bang bang bang. Students and school staff were seen fleeing from the scene, and those waiting outside the Debsirin School looked visibly distraught.