A former student carried out a shooting at a vocational high school in southeast Turkey, injuring 16 individuals before taking his own life, according to an official statement. The 18-year-old perpetrator, armed with a shotgun, indiscriminately fired within the school premises in Siverek, Sanliurfa province, before seeking refuge inside the building. The Governor, Hasan Sildak, disclosed that the incident resulted in injuries to 10 students, four teachers, a canteen worker, and a police officer. While most of the wounded victims received medical care in Siverek, five individuals in critical condition were transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, with school shootings being uncommon in Turkey. The assailant, who had no prior criminal record, was able to carry out the shooting despite the school being deemed safe and lacking a permanent police presence for protection. Governor Sildak characterized the incident as an “isolated event.”
Reports from NTV television and other media outlets suggested that the attacker had issued threats on social media before the assault. An eyewitness recounted the harrowing experience, stating that the shooter entered their classroom without uttering a word and began firing. After witnessing the chaos, the student and a companion managed to escape by leaping out of a window.
Following the evacuation of all students and the deployment of police special operations units, the perpetrator refused to surrender, prompting a confrontation that culminated in his self-inflicted demise. Governor Sildak announced plans for a thorough investigation into the shooting. Video footage captured the frantic scene as numerous students fled the school and sought safety outside.