Thailand day care massacre victims prepared for funeral rites

Many of the young victims' bodies were outfitted as doctors, soldiers or astronauts — what they wanted to be when they grew up — before they were to be cremated.

Families of victims in last week's massacre at a day care centre gathered on October 11 at Buddhist temples in rural northeastern Thailand for the start of a shared cremation ceremony that marks an end to three days of funeral rites.

The gun and knife attack carried out by a former policeman on Thursday on the Young Children's Development Center in Uthai Sawan killed 36 people, including 24 children.

On Tuesday morning, many of the young victims' bodies were outfitted as doctors, soldiers or astronauts — what they wanted to be when they grew up — before they were to be cremated in the evening.

Volunteer rescue worker Attarith Muangmangkang said his organisation arranged for the costumes and assisted the families with changing the victims' outfits on Tuesday.

“The more we talked [to the families], we realised that these children also had dreams of becoming doctors, soldiers, astronauts, or police officers,” Attarith said. “We provided those uniforms for them.” Mourners also placed children's toys, candles, and incense sticks in front of portraits of the victims at Rat Samakee temple, just 3KM (2 miles) from the scene of the bloodshed.

Petchrung Sriphirom, 73, was one of many local residents who travelled to the temple to offer condolences to the families and make a small donation to help with funeral costs, which is a common Thai tradition.