Thailand’s prime minister has vowed to bring a new firearms control law in the country after a shooting rampage on the outskirts of Bangkok left at least nine people dead.

Anutin Charnvirakul said he will propose a law to restrict the carrying of firearms by the public.

A 14-year-old school boy opened fire at Debsirin Nonthburi School in Nonthaburi province in the northwest of Bangkok and killed at least eight people. He also took his own life and is appeared to have killed his two grandparents at the family home earlier in the morning on the day of the shooting, officials said.

On Saturday, 15 people continued to be hospitalised – six of them in critical condition – the country’s health ministry said. The injured included students between the age of 12 to 14.

Mr Anutin, who has previously imposed stricter gun laws as interior minister, announced that the government will now allow fewer people to carry guns.

“The new law will only allow government officials on duty to carry guns,” he said, speaking to reporters on Friday. The PM did not offer details on the envisaged legislation and whether it will tighten the existing ownership requirements.

Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia, second only to Pakistan and far surpassing its Southeast Asian neighbours.

The bodies of the eight people – five school staff members, the alleged shooter, and his grandparents – were collected on Saturday afternoon by Bangkok’s Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Most of the victims in the shooting suffered a single fatal gunshot wound to their vital area, their chest or head, said Wiroon Supasingsiripreecha, head of the institute.

The detailed forensic findings, including toxicology results, are expected later, he said.

Emergency workers present at the site loaded the remains of the deceased into a coffin and onto an ambulance. These will now be transported to the victims’ hometown for their funeral rites.

Mr Supasingsiripreecha said the gunshot wound found on the alleged shooter was consistent with the weapon he had used.

The gun, reported to be small and compact by the authorities, was legally registered on the boy’s grandfather’s name, officials said.

Local media has reported that the boy, who lived with his grandparents, showed signs of stress connected to school.

But some of his relatives told Thai media that they were unaware of any troubles he might have been facing.

The school has now suspended all classes from 10 August to 14 August and the school staff were instructed to work from home during that time.

Under the Thai government rules, people are required to obtain separate licenses for owning and carrying firearms.

However, mass-shootings have been regularly reportedly in Thailand, including incidents at schools, a major Bangkok mall and a 2022 killing spree in the country's northeast that killed 36 people including 22 children.