A gunman has shot dead at least 36 people, including young children, at a nursery in Na Klang district, Nong Bua Lamphu province, northeast Thailand.

Panya Khamrap, a 30-year-old ex-cop, first shot dead multiple adults, before entering into a locked room where he stabbed sleeping children as young as two to death.

According to local sources, the shooting occurred at 12:50 local time at a nursery shortly after lunchtime. Armed with a pistol and knife, Khamrab attacked four or five staff. Among them was a teacher who was eight months pregnant. He then proceeded to enter a room where children were asleep.

At least 36 people were killed, including at least 24 children, with the youngest victim being two years old. An additional 12 people were injured. There were 30 children in the nursery at the time of the attack.

Afterwards, Khamrab fled the scene in a white Toyota Hilux Vigo pickup truck and returned home, where he fatally shot his wife and children before killing himself.

Meanwhile, a police official said that while leaving the facility, Khamrab shot at, and crashed his vehicle into, bystanders, injuring two. (ILKHA)