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Explosions have rocked a Thai shopping centre where a crazed soldier executed 21 civilians in a mass shooting rampage before a brutal gun battle with special forces.

Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma opened fire in Nakhon Ratchasima – also known as Korat – in north-eastern Thailand this afternoon.

He first killed his commander and two others at a military base before storming the Terminal 21 shopping mall in the city.

The gunman then randomly shot at multiple civilians at the mall, reportedly including a police officer and a nine-year-old boy.

Special forces stormed the building after he holed up in a shop with 16 hostages.

The maniac then used a sniper rifle to take out one commando and injure three others before six huge explosions rocked the building.

The Thai army deployed a drone to find his sniping position after ordering troops to retreat.

He is believed to have live-streamed his sickening massacre on Facebook.

(Image: Facebook)

He also posted several chilling selfies of himself from the scene, showing him wearing a military helmet and uniform.

He posed for a picture in front of a fire at the mall, which he started by shooting at a gas tank which caused it to explode.

In one video update, he even complained he was exhausted from shooting his victims.

(Image: Twitter)

He said: "I’m tired now. I can’t move my finger anymore."

Several hostages have been released, but it is unclear how many remain inside the building.

Just hours before the attack the suspect also posted a number of rants on Facebook, and warned that "death is inevitable for everyone".

He told how he was seeking "revenge", adding: "Getting rich from corruption and taking advantage of other people, do they think they can bring money with them to spend in hell?"

(Image: Twitter)

And as he carried out the attack, the soldier also wrote on his Facebook page – which was taken down two hours after he started his attack – "so tired" and "dead? Is that 3 people?"

Another post read: "Should I give up?"

As the rampage continued, horrifying video clips from passers-by on social media showed victims on the ground in pools of blood.

(Image: ViralPress)

Other clips showed people running for cover as a shower of gunshots were heard.

The soldier was said to have initially gone to a house – where he was supposed to be meeting officials to settle a land dispute – when he killed his army commander and a woman.

He then went to the weapons store at the Suratham Phithak military base, took several guns and rounds of ammunition, then started shooting colleagues.

(Image: ViralPress)

After stealing a military vehicle, the suspect drove to the shopping mall where he continued his rampage.

He reportedly started spraying bullets at random people the moment he stepped out of his vehicle outside the mall.

Defence ministry spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit said: "We don't know why he did this. It appears he went mad."

A police spokesman said earlier: "The gunman used a machine gun and shot innocent victims resulting in many injured and dead.

"I cannot confirm the death toll right now, police sealed off the area."

CCTV later emerged showing the shooter casually strolling through the empty shopping centre holding a machine gun and dressed in tactical gear.

(Image: ViralPress)

Terrified shoppers could be seen in the footage cowering behind counters in shops as the killer walked past in the hunt for more victims.