South African ex-teacher left Thailand, placed on watch list after gun threats

A former foreign teacher at Hatyai Wittayalai School in Songkhla province who allegedly posted gun threats after his termination left Thailand on July 19, a Songkhla police commander said today.

Pol Maj Gen Teerasak Chaiyayotha said that, following the teacher’s departure from the country, immigration police had placed the South African, known as “Kru Peter”, on a watch list and instructed Hatyai police to increase patrols around the school and coordinate with school officials over security measures.

Hatyai Wittayalai School announced today that classes will be held online on August 10 and 11 after the teacher in question allegedly posted photographs of firearms, messages and audio clips on social media and in a public LINE group.

In her complaint to police, the school’s director said the postings were made after the school terminated his contract on July 24 after finding that he had violated its terms.

The South African also posted photographs of the school’s administrative team, accompanied by messages that were allegedly threatening in nature, the director told police.

The decision to move classes online came against the backdrop of the fatal shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School on Friday, in which eight people were killed and the 14-year-old gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.