Death toll in the Nakhon Ratchasima shooting rampage has increased to 30 and the number of injured is 58, with 30 of them still in hospital, according to Nakhon Ratchasima governor Wichien Chantharanothai.
Of the 30 fatalities, including the gunman, Jakrapanth Thomma, he said that officials have managed to notify the families of 28 victims.
President of the Privy Council, General Surayud Chulanont, will attend the funerals of some of the victims tomorrow (Monday) at Wat Samakkhi on behalf of His Majesty the King. He is also scheduled to visit the injured in hospital.
Dr. Chutidet Ongkharak, director of Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, said today that bodies of the dead could not yet be taken from the hospital by their families because they are awaiting autopsy.
Meanwhile, forensic teams and members of Ordnance Explosives Disposal (OED) have combed the Terminal 21 shopping mall, the scene of the dramatic siege, to look for evidence and explosives which may have been left inside the mall by the shooter.
The mall has been cordoned off and remains closed. It is not known when it will be reopened.
Two members of the police crack Arintharat anti-terrorism unit, Pol Cpt Trakul Tha-arsa and Pol Acting Sub-Lt Petcharat Kam, who were killed in the firefight with the gunman, will be flown back to Bangkok tomorrow for a Royally-sponsored funeral to be held at Wat Tritossathepvoravihara.
