Thai army reacts to country's worst mass shooting

Some people have criticized the ease with which the attacker was able to gather the weapons he used in the attack and the length of time it took for security forces to bring the incident to an end.

Bangkok: Thailand's army chief accepted blame Tuesday for the weekend rampage in which a disaffected soldier shot dead 29 people.

In a news conference, General Apirat Kongsompong, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army, said the army needed to take "very good care" of its soldiers, particularly at the lower end of the hierarchy.

"Do not criticize the army. Do not criticize the soldiers," Kongsompong said. "If you want to criticize someone, if you want to blame someone, you can criticize General Apirat Kongsompong."

The first two people to be killed by the disgruntled soldier were Colonel Anantarote Krasae, his commanding officer in the 22nd Ammunition Battalion, and the officer's 63-year-old mother-in-law.

Some people have criticized the ease with which the attacker was able to gather the weapons he used in the attack, and the length of time it took for security forces to bring the incident to an end.