At least 24 children and 11 adults were killed Thursday in an attack that began at a children's center in northeastern Thailand, authorities said.

 The gunman then fled the scene, firing from his car on the way home, where he killed his wife and child before taking his own life, police said.

 The first attack took place around 12:30 p.m. local time when a man identified as a former police officer entered a children's center in the city of Nongbua Lamphu, authorities said.

 Nineteen boys, three girls and two adults were killed in the building before the attacker fled, according to a police statement.

 In the photos and videos from the scene published on the Internet, sleeping mats can be seen scattered around the room of the preschool institution, its floor is stained with blood, the publication writes.

 In the video, screams could be heard as the crazed family members cried outside the children's center building. Ambulances stood by as police and paramedics made their way through the courtyard of the children's centre.