Thai shooting: Security forces kill soldier who went on shooting rampage

Thai security forces have killed the soldier who killed at least 20 people and wounded more than 30 in a shooting rampage in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima.

Police and military sources said he had been killed at the shopping centre where he was holed up.

"The police have killed the perpetrator and rescued eight hostages. Some were wounded," one of the security sources told South China Morning Post.

"Thank you police and army for ending the situation. Shooter shot dead!!!" Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul posted on his Facebook page.

Officials say Sgt Jakrapanth Thomma was behind the attack at Nakhon Ratchasima, about 250 kilometres northeast of Bangkok.

He first killed his commanding officer then fired at others at his base and took guns and ammunition before fleeing in an army Humvee.

There, he carried out a massacre which has claimed the lives of at least 20 people.

"We were scared and ran to hide in toilets," said Sumana Jeerawattanasuk, one of those rescued by police. She said seven or eight people hid in the same room as her.

"I am so glad. I was so scared of getting hurt," she said.

Thomma posted updates to his Facebook page during the rampage.

"No one can escape death," read one post. Another asked, "Should I give up?" In a later post, he wrote, "I have stopped already."

A photo circulated on social media that appeared to be taken from the Facebook page shows a man wearing a green camouflaged military helmet while a fireball and black smoke rage behind him.

The profile picture shows him in a mask and dressed in military-style fatigues and armed with a pistol. The background image is of a handgun and bullets. 

The Facebook page was made inaccessible after the shooting began.

Reuters / Newshub.