On Saturday, a Thai soldier killed several troops at a military base before driving off to the centre of the city of Nakhon Ratchasima to continue his massacre. Here�s what we know at this stage.

* On Saturday, 32-year-old Jakrapanth Thomma, a corporal in the Thai Royal Army, is suspected to have shot and killed his commanding officer Col. Anantharot Krasae, as well as a fellow soldier and a 63-year-old woman at a military base outside Nakhon Ratchasima, a Thai city about 250 km northeast of Bangkok.

* After killing his fellow soldiers and the elderly woman, the man stole a Humvee and traveled to the city centre, where he opened fire on shoppers at a local mall. A cooking gas container in the mall�s food court exploded under a hail of bullets.

* At least one police officer was killed after Thomma entered the city, and authorities fear that at least 17 people have been killed. The number of injuries remains unknown.

* Dramatic footage released from the scene shows people running in fear from the attacker, with heavily special forces troops deployed in the city�s streets.

* The massacre may have been premeditated, with the soldier posting messages to his Facebook and Instagram pages, including a cryptic Facebook message saying nobody can escape death just two hours before the attack began

* The suspect live-updated part of the massacre, posting pictures of himself in full tactical gear, a facemask and rifle, and writing So tired, Are they dead? It�s three people, and other messages before his profiles were deleted.

* In the mall, Thomma is believed to have taken over a dozen people hostage, turning the assault into a hostage situation, with law enforcement seeking the suspect�s arrest and attempting to ensure the release of the hostages. The hostages are thought to be held on the 4th floor of the mall.

* Thai Prime Minister Pyraut Chan-o-cha has told reporters that he is paying close attention to the situation, and has asked law enforcement to apprehend the suspect as soon as possible.

SOURCE: sputniknews.com