A teacher was shot dead while looking after children having lunch at Ban Tanyong School in Narathiwat's Bacho district yesterday.
Chonlathee Charoenchol, 51, was shot in the head by an attacker at noon while he and 15 other teachers were taking care of 292 students in the school's canteen in tambon Barae Tai.
Four suspects had arrived on two motorcycles and made for the school's canteen, police said.
A gunman approached Chonlathee and fired a 9mm handgun twice, hitting the teacher in the head. The gunman then took Chonlathee's car keys and drove away in his bronze Nissan.
Atthasit Rattanaklaw, director of the Narathiwat Educational Service Area Office 1, said the attack terrified the children.
Director of Narathiwat Primary Education Area Office 1 Atthasit Rattanaklaew said yesterday he has ordered the closure of 27 schools. The schools will reopen on Monday.
Meanwhile, in Narathiwat's Rueso district, a sniper shot a soldier in front of a tea shop, leaving him critically injured.
The shooting happened about 9am yesterday when eight soldiers were getting into a pickup truck after a break at the shop in tambon Rueso Ok. The soldiers protect teachers as part of Narathiwat Task Force 30.
Private Suthiphong Poonsawat, 22, was shot in the hip by an M16 rifle. He was the last to get into the pickup, and was thought to be shot by a sniper hiding in a rubber plantation opposite.