A gunman shot two bus passengers this morning before turning the weapon on himself and taking his own life while negotiating with the police.

Ex-con Nawin Chuangkliang, 24, boarded the Phuket-Phatthalung bus while it was on Thep Krasattri Road in Phuket, Thailand on February 10 at 6.50 AM.

He then rampaged through the aisle just a short distance from the Phuket bus station. Officials said at least 10 people were able to escape after the driver parked the bus.

A man and woman suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to the hospital. After all other passengers had escaped, the police temporarily closed the area and tried to negotiate with the man to surrender peacefully.

However, the police announced at 11.20 AM that Nawin had shot himself dead before the police took his body to the Vachira Phuket Hospital.

The driver said that the bus left with nine passengers from the station at 6.40 AM. However, around 10 minutes after departing, the bus stopped at the traffic light and a gun noise rang out.

A woman ran to the front of the bus and told him that she was shot. He said he parked the bus on the side before a man was shot. The passengers were then able to escape.

Colonel Suchart Mheelampong from Phuket Police said the two passengers had suffered gunshot wounds and were being treated in hospital.