At least 16 people were injured after a former student opened fire at a vocational high school in southeastern Turkey, in a rare incident of school violence that has shocked the nation.
The attack occurred in Siverek, located in Sanliurfa Province, where an 18-year-old gunman armed with a shotgun began firing indiscriminately داخل the school premises. According to Governor Hasan Sildak, the suspect later turned the weapon on himself after being cornered by security forces.
Among the injured were 10 students, four teachers, a school canteen employee, and a police officer. While most victims are receiving treatment locally, several with more serious injuries have been transferred to hospitals in the provincial capital for advanced care.
Authorities confirmed that students were safely evacuated as police special operations units responded to the scene. Footage from the incident showed panicked students fleeing the school grounds as the situation unfolded.
The motive behind the attack remains unknown, and officials have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine what led to the violence. School shootings are extremely uncommon in Turkey, making the incident particularly alarming.
The tragedy has reignited discussions around school safety and mental health, as communities grapple with the aftermath of an attack that disrupted what is typically considered a secure educational environment.