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, targeted the school in Siverek, Sanliurfa province, before ultimately shooting himself. The incident resulted in injuries to 10 students, four teachers, a canteen employee, and a police officer, with five of the more severely wounded victims being transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital for specialized treatment. The motive behind the attack remains unknown, as school shootings are uncommon in Turkey.
The attacker, who had no prior criminal record, was able to carry out the shooting despite the school being deemed secure and lacking a permanent police presence for protection. Governor Hasan Sildak described the incident as an “isolated event.” Reports indicated that the assailant had issued threats on social media before the attack, with witnesses recounting the chaos that ensued during the shooting. One student shared their harrowing experience of escaping through a classroom window to avoid the gunfire.
Law enforcement authorities managed to corner the assailant inside the school premises, leading to his self-inflicted fatal injury. A thorough investigation into the shooting is set to be conducted to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. Footage from the scene captured the frantic evacuation of students from the school following the incident.