A gunman claimed the lives of five individuals before ending his own at the Or Tor Kor Market in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, July 28, 2025. Police have classified the event as a mass shooting.
The incident began at 12:31 p.m. local time at the well-known fresh food market in Bangkok’s northern Chatuchak district. Located adjacent to the expansive Chatuchak weekend market, it is recognized for its agricultural goods and local cuisine, drawing in both locals and international visitors.
According to police reports, four security guards and a merchant were among the deceased. Two women were injured and taken to Phyathai Phahol Hospital. The Erawan Medical Center in Bangkok confirmed these figures.
Surveillance videos depicted the shooter in a black T-shirt, baseball cap, and camouflage shorts, with a backpack on his chest. A video circulating online appears to show the individual walking through the market holding a handgun. He left the scene before taking his own life on a nearby bench.
Deputy police chief Worapat Sukthai of Bang Sue district confirmed an investigation is underway. “Police are investigating the motive. So far, it’s a mass shooting,” Sukthai stated to news agencies.
Authorities identified the shooter as a 61-year-old Thai national and former security guard at the same market. Preliminary investigations suggest personal issues with former colleagues since 2019, allegedly related to a relationship with a vendor and a car-scratching incident.
The shooting occurred near a donation site for victims of the Thai-Cambodian border conflict. However, police have ruled out any connection between the shooting and the border issues or donation activities.
Following the incident, Bang Sue Police Station officers secured the market area, advising the public to steer clear until it was deemed safe. Market visitors were instructed to stay indoors with doors and windows locked during the police operation.
Police General Kitrat Phanphet, head of Thailand’s national police, directed city police to expedite their investigation and collect all evidence, including CCTV footage from the area. Authorities confirmed no tourists were harmed.
The attack coincided with ongoing border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, which have been ongoing for five days. Thai and Cambodian leaders met in Malaysia on Monday to discuss the conflict, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming U.S. involvement in peace talks.
Thailand ranks high in Southeast Asia for gun ownership and related deaths, second only to the Philippines. The country has faced multiple mass shootings recently, including a 2020 attack by a junior army officer in Nakhon Ratchasima, resulting in 29 deaths and 58 injuries.
In 2023, a 14-year-old was apprehended for a deadly shooting at a luxury mall in Bangkok. The previous year, a former policeman killed 38 people in a nursery, marking the deadliest rampage in Thailand’s history.
The Or Tor Kor Market shooting could impact Thailand’s tourism sector, crucial for the nation’s economy. Efforts have been made to market Thailand as an attractive destination, especially following the enactment of the country’s gay marriage law in January 2025. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched campaigns promoting the nation as LGBTQ+ friendly, including “Go Thai Be Free,” and aims to host World Pride 2028.
