Entertainment
Thai Minor Arrested After Shopping Mall Shooting Kills 2
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Bangkok, Thailand – Thai police have arrested a teenager accused of shooting and killing at least two people and injuring several more at a downtown Bangkok shopping mall on Tuesday.
Authorities have confirmed a Myanmar and a Chinese national were killed at the Siam Paragon Mall.
The shootings that took place after 4 p.m. local time led to hundreds of shoppers evacuating the mall. Police arrived on the scene shortly after and apprehended the gunman, who surrendered without resisting, local media report. News reports say he is 14 years old.
Eyewitness accounts
Witnesses who work at the luxury mall told VOA they heard the gunshots before eventually fleeing the building.
Poon, who works at a coffee shop on the ground floor, described her experience.
‘I didn’t see anything. Customers told us there was some shooting upstairs. I stopped working when I heard people say ‘run, run.’ I ran to the Siam Center [opposite the Siam Paragon building]. I was excited but scared,’ she said.
Siam Paragon Mall is evacuated following a deadly gun attack, in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct. 3 2023. (Tommy Walker/VOA)
Poy, who works at a dessert shop on the third floor, said all she saw was people running to the exit before she evacuated.
Jakkraphan, who works at an ice cream shop, had to hide when the shooting happened.
‘I heard four or five shots. I was on the ground floor. People were screaming. I hid for five minutes and then I went out of the building,’ he said.
Gautam from Mumbai, India, said the gunshots caused a panic as people fled the mall.
‘There was bunch of gunshots, five or six times, one after the other. We saw everyone was pretty much panicking and had to scatter. We saw people running all over the place, it was like a stampede almost. But fortunately, the mall wasn’t so crowded, perhaps because it’s a Tuesday. But we noticed there was a lot of people running around,’ he said.
Video of the accused gunman has been posted on social media. The videos show the suspect has long hair and wore glasses and was wearing a hat with the national flag of the United States on it.
History of mental illness
At a news conference outside of the mall, Thailand Police Gen. Torsak Sukwimon told reporters that the accused is a juvenile who has a history of mental illness.
He said the suspect had told authorities he had forgotten to take his medication that day and that he had heard voices urging him to shoot people.
Thailand’s prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, commented on the attacks on X (formerly Twitter), expressing ‘deepest condolences to the families.’
Siam Paragon is one of the biggest malls in the country, boasting Michelin-star food, luxury fashion stores, a movie theater and an aquarium. The mall is popular with locals and foreign tourists. Ten years ago, it was named the world’s most photographed place by social media app Instagram.
Some shoppers and workers were still being evacuated hours after the shootings even while the mall was closed. The shooting was also coupled with torrential rain in Bangkok, causing heavy traffic on Sukhumvit Road and ankle-deep puddles.
Siam Paragon released a statement expressing its condolences, saying the incident was ‘unexpected’ and thanked authorities for their efforts.
Mass shootings rare
Mass shootings are rare in Thailand but this is the third gun attack in recent years. In 2020, a soldier of the Royal Thai army shot and killed 29 people and injured 58 more in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima before being shot and killed by authorities.
And almost a year ago to the day on Oct. 6, 2022, a former Thai police officer used a gun and a knife to kill dozens of people, including children, at a nursery in the town of Nong Bua Lam Phu in northern Thailand. The gunman killed himself following the massacre. It was the country’s deadliest mass shooting carried out by an individual to date.
Mass Shooting in Northern Thailand Leaves Dozens Dead, Including Children
Thailand has more than 10.3 million firearms, with civilian ownership at 15.1 weapons per 100 persons, the highest in the ASEAN block.
Stephen Boitano contributed to this report.
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Emirates Dubai 7s is returning to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29, with tickets now on sale for the three-day sports and entertainment festival.
The 2026 edition will bring together international rugby, amateur sports, live music and family entertainment, with organisers promising a bigger programme than previous years.
The festival attracted more than 88,000 visitors in 2025 and will again take place during the final weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
Ticket prices
Ticket prices for General Admission and Hospitality have stayed the same for a third consecutive year.
Three-day General Admission tickets cost Dh595 per person, while the three-day Family Pass is Dh1,136 for two adults and two children.
Other ticket options
- Group pass: Dh446 per person for four or more adults
- Saturday or Sunday: Dh455
- Friday: Dh75
- Under 15s: Free
- People of Determination + carer: Dh375
Tickets can be purchased through the Emirates Dubai 7s website and app.
Bigger family attractions
Family entertainment will get a major boost this year as the UAE celebrates the Year of the Family.
The festival will feature its biggest-ever Kids’ Zone, including the UAE’s largest inflatable kids’ zone, along with a Ferris wheel and zipline. More attractions are expected to be announced ahead of the event.
Six sports and top rugby action
Alongside elite rugby, visitors can watch or take part in competitions across six sports — rugby, netball, cricket, WODON3 fitness, Rebound padel and Gaelic Football.
Gaelic Football will join the festival for the first time in 2026.
The Sevens Stadium will also host the opening round of the HSBC SVNS Series 2027, bringing the world’s leading rugby sevens players to Dubai.
The WODON3 Elite final will take place on Pitch 1 between HSBC SVNS matches, with competitors potentially performing in front of crowds of up to 20,000.
Music all weekend
Live entertainment will run throughout the festival, with local and international artists performing across three days.
Last year’s line-up included Tinie Tempah, Sean Paul and Fisher, while the 2026 headline acts will be announced later.
For a premium experience, The Sunroom returns with all-inclusive food and drinks, shaded seating, prime sporting views and dedicated access. Packages start from Dh1,925 per person.
With sport, music and family attractions packed into one weekend, Emirates Dubai 7s is gearing up for another big Dubai event.
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