ISTANBUL

A gunman who attacked a school Wednesday in southern Thailand killed one person and injured two before being arrested by police, according to media reports.

The 18-year-old assailant was shot and wounded by police prior to his arrest at the Phatong Prathan Keeriwat School in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, the Bangkok Post reported.

The school director was pronounced dead at a hospital after being injured.

The attacker later took a female teacher hostage.

The assailant is believed to have carried out the school attack after seizing an M4 rifle from police officers who were responding to a report of an 18-year-old man attempting to harm his mother at a nearby house.

The suspect entered the school in "an agitated state while carrying a gun," the Songkhla provincial government said in a statement.

The attacker entered school grounds at 4.45 pm (0945GMT), shortly before the school’s dismissal time.