Families begin identifying the dead after Nakhon Ratchasima attack

A father named his son at the city morgue as monks led a vigil in the northeastern Thai city on Sunday, 9 February 2020.

2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 7, 2026, 11:53 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Feb 8, 2020, 1:52 p.m. ETWritten Aug 8, 2026, 12:03 a.m. ET

Relatives have started identifying those killed in the attack that began in Nakhon Ratchasima on Saturday, 8 February 2020. The BBC reported that Ratchanon Karnchanamethee was named by his father, Natthawut Karnchanamethee, at the morgue. Most of the dead have not been publicly identified by officials. Among those killed on 8 February, according to BBC News, were a commanding officer at the Suatham Phithak Military Camp, Col Anantharot Krasae, 48, and Col Anantharot's 63-year-old mother-in-law, Anong Mitchan. BBC News also reported that a member of the security forces died during the operation. said the attack began at the military camp before the gunman arrived at Terminal in Korat — described as by Livemint and the Boston Globe, and as the or shopping centre by the BBC — where shoppers were eating and shopping when shots were fired. Death tolls given by officials and reported by outlets differ. The BBC reported that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced a revised toll of , plus the gunman, when he visited the wounded at a hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima at about on Sunday, up from an earlier figure of ; the BBC has also carried a figure of . CNN reported , citing police; Livemint reported and the Boston Globe , both citing . The number wounded was given as by the BBC, attributed to Mr Prayuth, while Livemint reported and the Boston Globe . The incident is over. , the Royal , forensic experts and the Thai army and Ministry of Defence responded. The BBC reported that security forces announced at 09:00 on Sunday that they had shot dead the gunman; the BBC and BBC News reported he was , while Livemint and the Boston Globe reported he was fatally shot and that officials released no details. identified the man as , 32; the Boston Globe and Livemint attributed the identification to Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantrawanich, and the BBC to unnamed officials and to . During the response, army officials asked news outlets to stop live coverage to avoid giving the suspect information about their operations. Mr Prayuth said: "It is unprecedented in Thailand, and I want this to be the last time this crisis happens." He also said: "I hope this is the only one and the last incident, and that it never happens again. No-one wants this to happen. It could be because of this person's mental health in this particular moment." posted on Facebook on Sunday morning thanking police and the army. A vigil for the victims was held in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday, with monks chanting prayers.

Earlier reports

Aug 7, 2026, 11:53 p.m. ETFirst report
Attack in Nakhon Ratchasima leaves dozens dead; Thai officials say gunman shot dead
Shoppers were inside Terminal 21, a seven-floor shopping complex in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Thailand — described by the BBC as designed on an airport theme — when a gunman arrived on Saturday 8 February 2020. According to the BBC, the attack began at about 15:30 local time (08:30 GMT) at the Suatham Phithak Military Camp before moving to the shopping complex. The BBC reported that people had begun leaving in an orderly fashion when police arrived at about 21:00, then started running when shots rang out. This remains a developing story.
Death tolls reported by news outlets differ. The BBC reported figures of 26 and of 29 dead, while CNN reported 20 dead, attributed to police. The BBC reported that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, speaking outside a hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima at 12:30, gave a revised toll of 26 plus the gunman, with 57 wounded, up from an earlier official figure of 20; the BBC and CNN differ over whether the figures date from Sunday 9 February or from that 12:30 briefing. Earlier in the night, the BBC reported an official toll of 16 at 21:20, and Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnverakul was reported as saying at 23:50 that 20 had died — 16 at the scene and four in hospital — with two police officers shot in the back and the leg undergoing surgery. Colonel Krishna Phatthanacharoen, deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, was reported at 19:55 as confirming more than 10 dead. The BBC reported that a member of the security forces died during the operation.
One victim has been publicly named: Ratchanon Karnchanamethee, whose name was released by his father, Natthawut Karnchanamethee, at the city morgue, the BBC reported. In its timeline of the attack, the BBC also named Col Anantharot Krasae, 48, and Col Anantharot's 63-year-old mother-in-law, Anong Mitchan, as killed at the military camp. Other identities have not been released.
The BBC reported that the security forces announced at 09:00 on 9 February that they had shot dead the gunman, about 16 hours after the attack began. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul posted on Facebook that morning: "Thank you police and army for ending the situation. Shooter shot dead!!!" Thai police named the suspect as Jakraphanth Thomma, 32, a soldier who police said killed his commanding officer before taking weapons from the military camp. No motive has been established. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said: "It is unprecedented in Thailand, and I want this to be the last time this crisis happens," and added: "I hope this is the only one and the last incident, and that it never happens again. No-one wants this to happen. It could be because of this person's mental health in this particular moment."
Police, forensic experts, the Royal Thai Police, the Thai army and the Ministry of Defence were among the responding agencies, according to BBC reporting. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said at 23:09 that the military would assist police in protecting the shopping centre and helping trapped people escape. During the response, army officials asked news outlets to stop live coverage of the attack to avoid giving the suspect information about their operations. On Sunday 9 February, a vigil for the victims was held in Nakhon Ratchasima, with monks chanting prayers.

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