Pope Francis prays on St. Peter’s Square, Oct. 5, 2022 / Daniel Ibáñez / CNACNA Newsroom, Oct 7, 2022 / 02:31 am (CNA).
Pope Francis has expressed great sorrow and mourning over the news of a terrible rampage at a Thai daycare centre that killed at least 34 persons, 23 of whom were children.
In a message sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope expressed his condolences.
“Deeply saddened to learn of the horrific attack that took place at a child-care centre in Uthai Sawan, His Holiness Pope Francis offers his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of his spiritual closeness to all those affected by this act of unspeakable violence against innocent children,” the message said.
The pope prayed that bereaved families and all those wounded would get assistance from their neighbours and finished his message with “blessings of peace and perseverance in every good.”
According to media reports, a single man with a gun and a knife committed the atrocity on October 6 in the village of Uthai Sawan, some 500 kilometres northeast of the capital Bangkok.
The individual was recognised by authorities as a former police officer facing a narcotics allegation. Motive is the focus of an ongoing police inquiry. Reuters reported, based on local media coverage, that the culprit went to collect his child after attending court earlier in the day. Not finding his child there, he launched his attack.
The BBC News reported that just one child escaped the murderous spree.
Several media outlets citing local officials stated that the 34-year-old perpetrator came home, murdered his wife and stepson, and then killed himself.
It is believed that the slaughter was one of the deadliest involving children in history.