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At least nine Buddhist monks were killed and many others injured when an 11-year-old boy drove a truck into a Buddhist procession in northeastern Thailand, according to police and local authorities. The boy, who took his parents' vehicle without permission, is in custody and will be questioned once state child protection officers arrive.

The incident occurred Thursday in Mukdahan province, about 600 kilometers northeast of Bangkok. A group of monks and lay followers were walking along a roadside during a pilgrimage when the truck struck them, as reported by Al Jazeera and Dawn.

Coverage Comparison

Reports differ on the exact death toll and number of injured. Al Jazeera initially reported at least nine monks killed and more than 20 injured, while a subsequent Al Jazeera article said eight monks were killed and 10 to 20 others injured. Dawn reported nine monks killed and around 10 others seriously injured, with more being treated for lighter injuries.

The discrepancy appears to stem from the timing of updates. According to Dawn, police said five monks died at the scene and three more in hospital, with the Mukdahan provincial office later announcing a ninth death. Health authorities had earlier reported four monks in critical condition and 10 others seriously hurt.

Eyewitness accounts featured in both outlets describe the chaos of the crash. One monk, identified as Phra Sompong, said in a video posted by local rescue workers: "I saw a boy driving a pick-up truck approaching. At that moment I was chanting 'Buddho, Buddho' [a meditation mantra]. Then suddenly the truck hit at full speed and crashed [into] us, like this." He added that he and another monk managed to jump out of the way, and that "the first nine monks in line survived. But others who were hit were thrown into the air."

Security camera footage shared by a local rescue group, Ruam Jai Mukdahan Rescue Association, shows the monks walking in a single line before the truck crashes into them, as reported by Al Jazeera. CCTV footage from a nearby property also captured the incident, with the sound of a loud crash heard before the procession stops, according to Dawn.

Key Claims

  • An 11-year-old boy drove a truck into a Buddhist procession in Thailand, killing and injuring several people, as reported by Al Jazeera and Dawn.
  • The truck was taken without permission by the boy, according to both outlets.
  • The death toll is contested: Al Jazeera reported at least nine, then eight, monks killed; Dawn reported nine monks killed.
  • The number of injured also varies: Al Jazeera reported more than 20, then 10 to 20; Dawn reported around 10 seriously injured, with more being treated for lighter injuries.
  • The incident occurred in northeastern Thailand, as reported by both outlets.
  • The child is in custody and will be questioned when state child protection officers arrive, according to Al Jazeera.
  • Under Thai law, children under the age of 12 have no criminal liability, as noted by Dawn.
  • Thailand has one of the worst road safety records in the world, according to Dawn.
Police Major General Pairoj Thaiphutsa, commander of the Mukdahan Provincial Police, told reporters: "The suspect is a child. The vehicle has been taken for forensic examination to determine the cause. We've asked the child's parents to come in so we can determine who is responsible for the child's care, so we can go on with legal proceedings," as quoted by Dawn.

The accident has drawn attention to road safety in Thailand. Dawn highlighted that the country has one of the worst road safety records globally, a point that frames the tragedy within broader concerns about deadly transport accidents.