Security tightened at Chiang Mai school after online threat

Many students at a well-known high school in Muang district of Chiang Mai were taken by surprise this morning by the presence of a large number of police officers at the school entrance and thorough searches of their school bags and backpacks.

The unannounced security operation was prompted by an urgent call to Mae Ping police from the school management after they discovered a post yesterday in a student Line group claiming that two students planned to carry out a violent attack on their bullies at the school at 10am today.

The post caused panic among some parents, who arrived at the school this morning to escort their children home for fear that the mass shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province could be repeated.

No violence took place and police found no weapons among the students. However, the school management is cooperating with police to identify and locate the students who posted the threatening message.

Pol Maj Gen Yutthana Kanchan, the provincial police commander, said he would seek a meeting with the management of all schools in Chiang Mai to discuss measures to prevent violence.

Security concerns at schools across the country have intensified following the Aug 7 shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, in which nine people were killed, including school officials, a student and the alleged shooter.

The incident has heightened fears among students, parents and school authorities about possible copycat attacks and prompted schools to step up security measures in response to threats or suspicious activity.