Thailand nursery attack: Over 36 people, including children, died

A former police officer facing a drug charge burst into a daycare centre on Thursday in Thailand, killing dozens of preschoolers and teachers and then shooting more people as he fled. 

At least 36 people were slain in the deadliest rampage in the nation's history.

The assailant, who was fired earlier this year, took his own life after killing his wife and child at home.

Photos taken by first responders showed the school's floor littered with the tiny bodies of children still on their blankets, where they had been taking an afternoon nap. 

The images showed slashes to their faces and gunshots to their heads and pools of blood.

A teacher told ThaiPBS, a public broadcaster, that the assailant got out of a car and immediately shot a man eating lunch outside, then fired more shots. When the attacker paused to reload, the teacher had an opportunity to run inside.

The attack took place in the rural town of Nongbua Lamphu in northeastern Thailand, in one of the country's poorest regions.

Another witness said staff at the day care had locked the door, but the suspect shot his way in.

At least 10 people were wounded, including six critically, police said.