The National Police Chief expressed deepest condolences to the family of Director Sasiphat for protecting the students. He also ordered a nationwide review of tactics to handle incidents involving mentally disturbed individuals, affirming that police actions in this case followed procedures and were not a failure, carried out with full commitment and utmost effort.
At 3:00 p.m. on 12 Feb 2026 at CentralWorld shopping mall (CTW), Police General Kittirat Phanphet, the National Police Chief, provided an update on the case of an 18-year-old man who went berserk, armed with a gun, invading Patong Prathankiriwat School in Hatyai District, Songkhla Province, taking teachers and students hostage before police managed to bring the situation under control.
He acknowledged that following the incident, he ordered an urgent nationwide review of measures to prevent and suppress incidents involving mentally disturbed individuals.
The Police Chief stated that the review will cover the entire process from incident response to tracking suspects and preventing recurrence, emphasizing the key principle of "no loss of life" for both citizens and officers. He also instructed for more rigorous and realistic tactical drills.
Addressing criticism that police tactics had failed, Police General Kittirat insisted the methods were not failures, as the initial response adhered to established tactics. However, the situation was complex because the assailant used different weapons at various times, forcing officers to prioritize their own safety before regaining control.
At one point during the incident, the assailant managed to seize a firearm from police officers, increasing the operation's risk. This highlighted the need for more thorough and intense tactical training.
The Police Chief admitted that incidents involving mentally disturbed individuals vary; some do not seize weapons or harm others. In this case, clear harm was inflicted, so police had to exercise discretion based on the immediate situation, prioritizing public safety first.
Regarding the firearm seized, it was identified as a 9mm pistol, not a submachine gun, modified for easier handling. Police operations were resolute, and upon recognizing the assailant's malicious intent, advanced tactics were necessary, resulting in the assailant being wounded and currently detained according to legal procedures.
According to the reported timeline, the incident began around 3:00 p.m. Police responded immediately, exerting full effort despite challenges such as time constraints, reinforcement availability, and the assailant's uncontrollable behavior. These factors will be analyzed to improve future operations.
Police General Kittirat emphasized that all officers involved acted with full dedication and expressed deepest condolences to the family of Mrs. Sasiphat Sinsomros, the director of Patong Prathankiriwat School, who died protecting teachers and students until her last moment, praising her bravery.