A 14-year-old eighth grade student opened fire at a school in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, on Wednesday, killing nine people and wounding thirteen. The attacker died at the scene, authorities confirmed.
Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci announced the confirmed death toll of nine, including both students and staff, and said thirteen others were injured. Of the wounded, six remain in intensive care, with three in critical condition.
The assailant carried five guns and seven magazines, believed to belong to his father. Kahramanmaras province governor Mukerrem Unluer told reporters the student opened fire randomly inside two classrooms. He said the attacker was the son of a former police officer.
Video footage verified by Agence France-Presse shows students fleeing through the school courtyard and jumping from a first-floor window to escape the gunfire. Around fifteen gunshots can be heard in the video.
The student died from a gunshot wound at the scene. Officials have not yet confirmed whether the death was a suicide or occurred amid the chaos of the shooting. The attacker’s father has been detained by police, according to Anadolu news agency.
Following the shooting, security was increased around the school and nearby ambulances responded to the scene. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said prosecutors had launched an immediate investigation.
This incident is Turkey’s second school shooting in two days. On Tuesday, an 18-year-old opened fire with a shotgun at his former vocational high school in Siverek, Sanliurfa province, injuring sixteen before killing himself during a police confrontation. Ten of the wounded from that attack were students.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the recent shootings in parliament, promising accountability for anyone found negligent or responsible. After Tuesday’s attack, authorities detained one suspect and suspended four officials, according to Erdogan. The school where Wednesday’s shooting occurred was ordered closed for four days.
School shootings remain extremely rare in Turkey, a country with strict gun control laws requiring licensing, registration, and background checks for firearm possession. This week’s back-to-back attacks have shocked the nation and prompted intensified scrutiny over school safety and gun regulations.
Why it matters
The consecutive school shootings mark an unprecedented security crisis in Turkey, raising serious concerns about youth access to firearms and school safety. The government’s response, including investigations and official suspensions, signals increased pressure to address potential lapses in gun control enforcement and school security protocols.
Background
Turkey typically sees minimal gun violence in schools due to stringent firearm laws that mandate licensing, thorough background checks, and criminal record verification. Prior to these incidents, school shootings in Turkey were exceedingly rare, making this recent escalation notable and alarming for policymakers and the public alike.
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