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An enraged former policeman has killed 35 people in a bloodthirsty rampage at a Thai nursery, butchering sleeping children and executing a pregnant woman before shooting dead his family. 

Panya Khamrap, armed with a shotgun, a pistol and a knife, first shot dead multiple adults including an eight-month pregnant woman, before forcing his way into a locked room where he stabbed sleeping children as young as two to death.

The 34-year-old, who had been in court earlier today on drugs charges, arrived at the nursery and was agitated to find his child was not there and started the massacre at the kindergarten 300 miles northeast of Bangkok.

He continued the attack in nearby streets, shooting at bystanders and trying to run over panicked pedestrians as he fled in a white van which he torched at his home before killing his wife and child and turning the gun on himself. 

Dozens of blood-soaked bodies were scattered across the floor and grounds of the nursery and lined the roads and buildings outside. 

In total, 35 people have been killed along with the shooter. 24 bodies, including 19 boys, three girls and two adults were found at the nursery. A further adult and young boy were killed outside the centre in a government office.

At the shooter's house, one boy and four adults were found dead, and another adult at a nearby building was also killed. Three further adults were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead, and 12 more are being treated for injuries.

Khamrap was fired from the force last year after failing a drugs test, and he appeared in court today prior to the shootings.