A Thai soldier shot dead 20 people Saturday in a shooting rampage in the country's northeast, A Defense Ministry spokesman said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his condolences over the loss of life and instructed officials to catch the gunmen as soon as possible, according to the government spokeswoman.

The soldier first shot dead his commander and two others at a military camp in Nakhon Ratchasima before fleeing to a nearby shopping center where he opened fire on civilians, media reports said.

CCTV footage shows that the gunman is still inside the Terminal 21 shopping mall, with gunshots heard inside the building, a local TV station reported, quoting police and military.

A manhunt has been launched for the attacker, who is still at large and believed to be holed up in the Terminal 21 shopping mall.

Although the motive for the attack is unclear, local media reported that it may have stemmed from animosity between the soldier and the commander.

The Japanese Embassy said it had no information of any Japanese being caught up in the shooting.

[NurPhoto/Getty/Kyodo]

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