A Thailand school hostage incident unfolded at a school near Hat Yai in Songkhla province on Wednesday, late afternoon local time, after reports of gunfire and a hostage situation on campus. Police later said the siege ended and the suspect surrendered and was taken into custody, with injuries reported.

Details are still developing. Early reports have differed on the exact timeline, the spelling of the school’s name, and the number and severity of injuries. The update below separates what officials have confirmed from what has been reported by local media and other outlets.

What happened at Patong Prathan Kiriwat School (confirmed timeline so far)

Police and emergency responders were called to Patong Prathan Kiriwat School, commonly reported in English as Patong Prathan Kiriwat School, near Hat Yai, Songkhla, after reports that a young male suspect had entered the grounds shortly before 5:00 pm local time.

Based on statements attributed to Thai police and widely repeated reporting, the sequence so far looks like this:

Shortly before 17:00: A suspect was reported to have entered the school as the day was ending for many students. Shots were reported soon after.
Minutes later: People inside the school were told to shelter in place, and some teachers and students were reported trapped in parts of the building.
Early stage of the incident: Police surrounded the school and secured the area. Local media reported a standoff and a hostage situation involving a teacher and students.
After about 1 to 2 hours (reports vary): Officials said the standoff ended when the suspect surrendered. Police then began clearing the building and moving people to safety.

Authorities have not released a full, official minute-by-minute account. They have also not publicly confirmed all details that circulated online during the incident.

One practical complication is the school name itself. Spellings vary across reports (for example, Phatong vs Patong, and Keeriwat vs Kiriwat). The spelling Patong Prathan Kiriwat School appears most common in current English-language coverage.

Where it happened and why the Hat Yai area matters

The incident occurred in Songkhla province in Thailand’s deep south, near Hat Yai, a major city and transport hub. For many families, Hat Yai is a daily crossroads, with students commuting across districts, parents working long shifts, and heavy late afternoon traffic near schools.

Officials said police secured the area around the school while the situation was ongoing. Some posts online claimed wider road closures and disruptions, but without consistent confirmation, the safest summary is that there were reports of police controlling access near the school until the standoff ended.

For readers unfamiliar with the area, Hat Yai is also where many emergency response efforts focus during regional crises. Local coverage often reflects this, including reporting tied to past disruptions such as flooding. Related local context on Hat Yai’s emergency pressures can be found in this Chiang Rai Times report on Soi Dog Foundation’s Hat Yai flood animal rescue.

Police response, the standoff, and how the siege ended

Thai police said local units and emergency services responded quickly after the first calls came in. As the situation developed, officers established a perimeter, controlled entry points, and worked to bring people out safely once conditions allowed.

What’s confirmed at a high level is the outcome: police said the siege ended, the suspect surrendered, and he was detained. After the surrender, reports described ambulances leaving the scene and officials moving students and staff out in an orderly way.

What remains unclear is how negotiations unfolded minute by minute and what happened inside the school during the standoff. Some local outlets described a hostage release before the arrest; others reported the suspect was subdued soon after the last reported gunshot. Authorities have not released a detailed public narrative that reconciles these accounts.

Police also urged the public to avoid spreading unverified claims and to stop sharing graphic or sensitive videos. In fast-moving incidents, social media can act like a hall of mirrors. The same clip may be reposted with new captions, and speculation can be mistaken for fact within minutes.

Confirmed outcome: suspect surrendered and was detained

The core points that appear consistent across police statements and multi-outlet reporting are:

The standoff ended the same evening.
The suspect surrendered and was taken into custody.
Emergency medical response continued after the scene was secured.

Some outlets have reported the suspect as 18 years old, but unless police confirm this detail in an official release, it should be treated as reported, not confirmed.

Injuries and who was affected (what officials have said)

Officials have reported injuries, but the exact count and severity have differed across early updates. The safest confirmed minimum in current reporting is at least two people injured, including:

A school administrator (often described as the principal or director in reports).
A female student.

Another student was also reported injured while fleeing in panic, with minor trauma described by some outlets, but details vary.

There have also been conflicting early reports about the school administrator’s condition. Some initial updates described the administrator as injured; later reporting by some outlets said the administrator died after being taken to the hospital. At the time of writing, readers should treat this point cautiously and rely on formal updates from Thai police and health authorities for confirmation.

No official public statement confirming a broader toll has been seen in the information available for this summary. No further fatalities have been confirmed in the sources used here.

Support for students and staff: what to expect next at the school

Authorities have not confirmed a detailed plan for school reopening, counseling, or schedule changes. Still, incidents like this usually trigger a familiar sequence in Thailand:

Schools typically coordinate with local officials to assess building safety, contact parents, and account for students and staff. Counseling and mental health support may be offered in the days that follow, often through school networks and local health services, but this should be treated as a possibility, not confirmed, until the school or education officials announce it.

What we know about the suspect, what’s unclear, and what happens next

A clear way to track this case is to separate confirmed points from unconfirmed reporting.

Confirmed (by police statements as reported):

A young male suspect was involved.
The suspect surrendered and was detained.
Police secured the school and ended the standoff the same evening.

Unconfirmed or not yet fully explained:

Motive: Some local media reported a personal grievance involving a teacher, but police have not publicly confirmed a motive.
Exact charges: Formal charges are often determined after questioning and evidence review. Police have not yet provided a full list in public reporting.
Precise sequence inside the school: Police have not released a detailed, verified account.

Next steps typically include police interviews, evidence collection at the scene, a review of CCTV, where available, and coordination with education officials. If prosecutors proceed, the case would move through the court process, with additional information often released in stages.

Thailand has faced heightened public concern about violence in public places after major cases in recent years, including the 2023 shooting at a Bangkok shopping mall and the 2022 attack at a childcare center in Nong Bua Lamphu. For background on the 2022 case, see Reuters’ photo report on the nursery massacre’s aftermath and an Associated Press account one year later. A general reference page is also available at Wikipedia’s Nong Bua Lamphu massacre entry.

FAQ: What we know now about the Songkhla school shooting and siege

Is the situation over?

Yes. Thai police said the siege ended Wednesday evening and the suspect surrendered. The suspect was taken into custody.

How many people were hurt?

Reports vary. The safest confirmed minimum in current reporting is at least two injured, including a school administrator and a female student. Some outlets also reported a third student with a minor injury while fleeing.

Where exactly did it happen?

It happened at a school in Songkhla province, near Hat Yai in southern Thailand. The school name is most commonly written in English as Patong Prathan Kiriwat School, though spellings vary across reports.

Was the suspect arrested?

Police said the suspect surrendered and was detained. Further details on the charges have not yet been confirmed in official public updates.

Do police know the motive?

Police have not publicly confirmed a motive. Claims circulating online and in some local media should be treated as unconfirmed until authorities publish a formal account.

A shooting and hostage situation at a school near Hat Yai in Songkhla province ended Wednesday evening after police said the suspect surrendered and was taken into custody. Injuries have been reported, but early details have varied, and the motive remains unclear.

For now, the most reliable guidance is to follow official updates from Thai police and health authorities, and to avoid reposting unverified claims or videos as the investigation continues. Details may change as authorities release more confirmed information.