A Thai soldier launched a shooting rampage that killed at least 29 people – including a 13-year-old boy – and injured 57 others because he was angry about a “house deal”, the country’s leader has said.

Thailand’s prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters on Sunday that the soldier, Jakrapanth Thomma, was involved in a land dispute with a relative of his commanding officer.

“It was a personal conflict … over a house deal,” said Mr Chan-ocha at a press briefing in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, where the attack took place on Saturday.

He added: “It is unprecedented in Thailand, and I want this to be the last time this crisis happens.”

Hundred of shoppers were inside the Terminal 21 shopping centre in the city when Thomma drove a stolen truck into the building, armed with an assault weapon and ammunition stolen from the army base’s arsenal.

Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Show all 26 1 /26 Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Thai soldier, Jakrapanth Thomma, killed at least at least 26 people - including a 13-year-old boy - and injured 57 others in a shooting in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima, health authorities said EPA/Terminal 21 Shopping Mall Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall The suspected Thai soldier carrying a rifle in Terminal 21 shopping mall after he attacked his commander, stole guns and ammunition. He then fled to the mall and opened fire there Facebook/AFP via Getty Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Thailand security forces take cover behind an ambulance as they chase the shooter hidden in a shopping mall Hundred of shoppers were inside the Terminal 21 shopping centre in the city when Thomma drove a stolen Humvee into the building, armed with an assault weapon and ammunition stolen from the army base’s arsenal Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Soldiers evacuate a hostage from a mass shooting scene EPA Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall The assailant was shot and killed by Thai security forces after an 18-hour standoff Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Shoppers flee active shooter at shopping centre Twitter Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Armed commando soldiers carry a person out of Terminal 21 Korat mall AP Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall The Thai Royal Police's Crime Suppression Department released a wanted poster stating he is wanted in connection to a deadly attack Thai Royal Police/AFP via Getty Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Soldiers cover rescue workers Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall People being evacuated from the shopping mall by members of security forces Thai Crime Suppression Bureau via Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Thai soldiers stand outside the Terminal 21 shopping mall AFP via Getty Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall People heading to an exit of the Terminal 21 Korat mall guarded by armed police AP/Crime Suppression Division Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall People run away from the shopping mall Songyost Suwanachim via Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Thailand security forces evacuated people from a shopping mall as they chase a shooter hidden in after a mass shooting in front of the Terminal 21, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand February 9, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall A woman who was able to get out of Terminal 21 Korat mall gestures with her hands on her face in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. A soldier who holed up in a popular shopping mall in northeastern Thailand shot multiple people on Saturday, killing at least 20 and injuring 31 others, officials said. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalitkanjanakul) Sakchai Lalitkanjanakul AP Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall People run away from the shopping mall Songyost Suwanachim via Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Bullet holes on the window of a car Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Jakrapanth Thommaposted on Facebook during the attack Facebook/AFP via Getty Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall A woman runs for shelter Songyost Suwanachim via Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall KORAT, THAILAND - FEBRUARY 09: Victims of the Terminal 21 mall shooting in the Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital on February 9, 2020 in KORAT, Thailand. On Saturday February 8 at Terminal 21 Mall in Korat, a city in Nakhon Rachasima, three hours from Bangkok, Sgt. Maj. Jakrapanth Thomma opened fire and killed 26 people and wounded 57 others in a 16 hour rampage before being shot down by Thai Police. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images) Lauren DeCicca Getty Images Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall A fire in the compound the shooting Thai Royal Police/AFP via Getty Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Thai security forces gather at Terminal 21 mall after completing their mission to stop a soldier on a rampage after a mass shooting Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall A soldier exits Terminal 21 shopping mall after completing their mission Reuters Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall Thai mourners attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting in Korat Getty Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall A man holds a candle at a vigil Getty Thai soldier shooting rampage in shopping mall People lay down flowers at a vigil AFP via Getty Images

One survivor, Suvanarat Jirattanasakul, 27, said: “It was frightening because I could hear the occasional gunshot … we waited a long time for the police to come and help us, many hours.”

The assailant was shot and killed by Thai security forces after an 18-hour standoff. Army spokesman Winthai Suvaree said Thomma, a sharpshooter, stole two rifles, an M60 machine gun and 770 rounds of ammunition from the arsenal, reported the Bangkok Post.

Thomma also reportedly killed his commanding officer and a guard in order to steal the weapons.

During his rampage, Thomma posted updates on Facebook before the social media platform shut his account down.

He said: “Death is inevitable for everyone.”

Later, he added another post complaining about his fingers cramping and asked: “Should I give up?”

Facebook said in a statement: “There is no place on Facebook for people who commit this kind of atrocity, nor do we allow people to praise or support this attack.”

Forensic police have reportedly begun collecting evidence inside the shopping centre, which remains cordoned off while authorities conduct their investigation.

Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, has a population of about 250,000 people. It is one of the lesser-visited areas among Thailand’s nearly million annual tourists.