Police in Ratchaburi have charged a woman accused of posting threats against a nursery school, prompting it to close for three days and move classes online. Officers say she admitted sending the messages in an effort to have the school's sports day postponed because she could not finish producing sports shirts in time. The school had planned its sports day for 26-28 August 2026, but announced a temporary closure after threats were posted in a teachers' group. It said classes would be held online during that period for the safety of staff and pupils. The messages reportedly referred to the event falling on the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival, claiming parents and staff were at risk if they attended the children's sports day. The posts caused concern among parents, according to the report. Police were deployed at the school from the morning, alongside volunteer defence personnel. Some parents who had not heard about the closure still brought their children to the school and were asked to take them home. Police trace messages to local woman Pol Col Phallop Suriyakun na Ayutthaya, deputy commander of Ratchaburi Provincial Police, said on the afternoon of 26 August that officers had begun investigating after learning of the threats the previous night. He said Pol Col Theerayut Sutthiphanphaisan, chief of the provincial investigation division, and Pol Col Phaiboon Phraesrinuan, chief of Mueang Ratchaburi Police Station, led investigators to speak with a woman from Thung Luang subdistrict in Pak Tho district. Police traced the name used on the Line messages to her, he said. The woman initially denied involvement, but officers searched her home and found another phone from which messages had been deleted. After recovering the messages, police concluded she was behind the threats, Pol Col Phallop said. During further questioning, she admitted sending them, according to police. Shirt order behind alleged plan Police said the woman had accepted an order to make the school's sports shirts but could not complete them in time. She allegedly created the threatening situation and cited the Chinese festival in the hope that the sports day would be delayed, allowing her extra time to produce the shirts. She has been charged with entering false information into a computer system in a way that causes damage to others, affects public safety or creates public panic. The offence carries a maximum five-year prison term, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both. She also faces a charge of causing fear or alarm through threats, punishable by up to one month in prison, a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both. The school may also pursue a civil case to recover losses from preparations for the sports day that had to be cancelled. Picture courtesy of Matichon Join the discussion? 27 August 2026
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