Pol. Maj. Gen. Archan Jansiri, Deputy Commander of Region 9 Police, clarified the incident where an 18-year-old man seized a police officer's gun left in a vehicle. He confirmed it was a momentary incident and that officers had exercised reasonable caution by not removing the firearm from the vehicle to prevent seizure during duty. However, the suspect took advantage of an opportunity after attacking the officers with a knife.
Updates on the incident where a suspect used a firearm to commit an offense inside Patong Prathankiriwat School on Municipal Road 31, Patong Subdistrict, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, taking teachers and students hostage. The event resulted in the death of the school's principal and injuries to two students. Police carefully executed tactical plans and successfully detained the suspect, as previously reported.
On the afternoon of 12 Feb 2026 at Yuang Thong Temple, Songkhla Province, Pol. Maj. Gen. Archan Jansiri, Deputy Commander of Region 9 Police, together with Pol. Maj. Gen. Teerasak Chaiyotha, Commander of Songkhla Provincial Police, provided updates on the case. They stated that investigators are currently interviewing witnesses near both the initial incident site and the school. Regarding charges against the suspect, investigators will apply all relevant criminal code provisions based on the suspect's actions. However, they are awaiting a psychiatric evaluation to assess the suspect's mental state. The investigation process has progressed significantly.
When asked about the police officers whose firearm (a Sig Sauer MPX with a 6-inch barrel) was seized during duty and whether tactics need revising, the Deputy Commander of Region 9 Police said that preliminary investigation shows that the first responding patrol unit arrived upon notification and assessed the need to request backup from Thung Lung Police Station.
The backup team was en route when the urgent, unfolding incident involved the suspect armed with a Sparta knife. Officers exercised reasonable caution by not removing firearms from the vehicle to prevent seizure while on duty, keeping weapons inside the vehicle. However, as officers moved the vehicle to retrieve a Taser, the suspect attacked them with the weapon and took the opportunity to seize the firearm.