An 18-year-old former student opened fire inside a vocational high school in Siverek, located in Turkey’s Sanliurfa province, on Tuesday, injuring at least 16 people before turning the shotgun on himself, officials said.
The attacker, armed with a shotgun, fired indiscriminately within the school building before killing himself after police cornered him, according to Governor Hasan Sildak. The victims included 10 students, four teachers, a canteen employee, and a police officer. While most were treated locally, five individuals with more serious injuries were transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital.
Governor Sildak described the school as having been declared safe prior to the incident and said no permanent police officer was assigned to the facility. He characterized the shooting as an isolated event and noted that the assailant had no prior criminal record. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack.
Reports from Turkish media indicated the attacker had posted threats on social media before the shooting. A student who escaped described the gunman entering classrooms and firing without speaking, injuring students in multiple rooms. The student told the state-run Anadolu Agency that he and a friend escaped by jumping out of a classroom window.
Following the shooting, all students were evacuated, and police special operations teams were deployed. Authorities confirmed the gunman died from a self-inflicted wound after being surrounded by police.
Video footage circulating online showed dozens of students fleeing the school in panic.
Why it matters
School shootings are rare in Turkey, making this incident a notable and alarming event in the country’s recent history. The attack raises questions about school security measures and monitoring of social media threats. Authorities have pledged a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Background
Turkey has seen few incidents of gun violence in educational settings compared to other countries, and schools are generally considered safe environments. The absence of a permanent police presence at the school reflects wider security policies that may come under review following this attack. Authorities continue to monitor social media and online activity for potential threats in an effort to prevent similar incidents.
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