People gather outside of a daycare center's scene of a mass shooting in the town of Uthai Sawan, 500 km (310 miles) northeast of Bangkok in the province of Nong Bua Lamphu, Thailand October 6 (Photo: Reuters)

The attacker was a former policeman who killed his wife and child before shooting himself dead.

About 30 children were at the centre when the gunman entered the building at 12.30pm (5.30am UK time), during the children’s nap time, police and local officials said. Some of the victims were as young as two. Jidapa Boonsom, a district official, told Reuters that the attacker first shot four or five members of staff, including a teacher who was eight months pregnant.