A nine-year-old boy in Thailand allegedly chased his primary school teacher with a machete after being reprimanded for his behaviour during a dispute with a classmate.
The incident took place on 12 June at a school in Mueang district, Sakon Nakhon province.
Videos circulating online showed a teacher running away from the boy, who appeared to be wearing his school uniform while holding a machete.
Boy Reportedly Returned To School Armed With A Machete
According to local reports, the boy had earlier been involved in an altercation with another student.
His homeroom teacher intervened to stop the dispute and scolded him over the incident.
The boy allegedly became angry, shouted at the teacher and was subsequently sent home, with his parents being informed.
However, he later returned to school carrying a machete and allegedly attempted to attack the same teacher.
The teacher reportedly ran for safety and called for help.
Students Left Frightened During Incident
Other students who witnessed the incident were reportedly terrified, with some crying in panic.
A school caretaker eventually stepped in and carefully guided the boy towards an open area near the playground before persuading him to put down the weapon.
No injuries were reported.
Boy Had Previous History Of Aggressive Behaviour
According to local residents, the child had previously displayed aggressive behaviour, including allegedly bullying classmates, threatening others and extorting money from fellow students.
The school had reportedly held multiple discussions with his family regarding his conduct.
He had also been suspended previously, with the school arranging online learning for him.
However, after returning to physical classes, his behaviour allegedly deteriorated further.
Child Psychologists And Social Workers To Assess Situation
A local social activist has since contacted child protection authorities to seek assistance.
Officials said a multidisciplinary team comprising child psychologists and social workers will visit the area to assess the situation.
Authorities will investigate the boy’s family background and identify factors that may have contributed to the incident.
The focus will be on ensuring the safety of students and teachers while also providing rehabilitation and support for the child.
Cases involving very young children displaying severe aggression often require intervention from multiple agencies, including educators, mental health professionals and family support services.
Do you think schools should have stricter intervention measures when children repeatedly display violent behaviour, or should more responsibility fall on parents at home?