Ex-cop killed himself after stabbing children as young as two and shooting teachers, including an 8-month-pregnant woman, before killing his wife and son

Panya Khamrap, the former police officer who killed more than 30 people including 22 children in a horrific mass shooting at a children’s daycare center in Thailand, with victims as young as two years old, has committed suicide.

The ex-cop who was armed with a shotgun, pistol and knife, first shot several adults, including an eight-month-pregnant woman, before fighting his way into a room locked door where he stabbed sleeping children to death.

The 34-year-old, who had appeared earlier in the day on drug charges, continued the massacre through nearby streets before fleeing in a white van to his home, where he killed his wife and his child and turned the gun on himself.

A total of 35 people were killed with the shooter. 24 bodies, including 19 boys, three girls and two adults were found at the crèche. Another adult and a young boy were killed outside the center in a nearby government office.

At the shooter’s home, a boy and four adults were found dead, and another adult in a nearby building was also killed. Three other adults were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead, and 12 others are being treated for injuries.

Khamrap was released from the force last year after failing a drug test, and he appeared in court today ahead of the shooting.

A massive manhunt was launched after the manger massacre. When police arrived at the gunman’s home, they found his van burned and his family already dead inside.

About 30 children were at the center when the shooter arrived around noon, district official Jidapa Boonsom told Reuters.

The man first shot four or five staff members, including an eight-month-pregnant teacher, Jidapa said.

“At first people thought it was fireworks,” she added.

The shooter escaped in a white four-door Vigo van and the bumper fell off as he drove away.

A staff member at the nursery said: ‘I knew it was a gun because I heard several shots and then saw him put the bullets in and point the gun at me.

“I called the teacher and the teacher was hugging the child. He kicked the mirror and I climbed the walls and asked for help.

“He stayed inside the children’s center for a long time. He used a knife and cut off all the children’s heads. He carried a small rifle.

“I didn’t know he was going to kill the children. I thought it was going to come out but it stayed inside for a long time. He used a knife and stabbed all the children.

“He also stabbed a pregnant teacher. Only a few more months until she gives birth. He stabbed my stick. That’s all I know.

Eyewitness Paweena Purichan, 31, was driving her motorbike towards her shop when she encountered the runaway Panya driving erratically.

“He intended to hit other people on the road,” she told AFP.

“The attacker hit a motorbike and two people were injured. I spun to get away from him.

” There was blood everywhere.

Paweena said the attacker was well known in the area as a drug addict.

The massacre comes less than a month after a serving army officer shot and killed two colleagues at a military training base in the capital Bangkok.