A former student opened fire inside a vocational high school in Siverek, Şanlıurfa province, and then died by suicide with the same shotgun, local authorities said. The suspect, born in 2007, was identified as a former pupil of the school.
Governor Hasan Sildak said the attack, which took place on Tuesday, left 16 people wounded: 10 students, four teachers, one canteen employee and a police officer. Most of the injured received treatment in Siverek; five students and teachers with more serious injuries were transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital.
Officials said the attacker used a pump-action shotgun and “randomly opened fire in the corridor.” Witness videos from inside the school showed students running in panic through corridors and out onto the street, and footage also captured the attacker moving through the building while firing. One student told state media he and a classmate escaped by jumping from a classroom window. The same student said the attacker entered a classroom without warning, fired four or five times and struck two people before moving on to another room.
Authorities said the motive remains unclear. They reported the suspect had no prior criminal record, although some media outlets say he may have posted threats on social media before the incident. Police described the episode as isolated and said the school has been secured. Governor Sildak said a comprehensive investigation is under way.
School shootings are rare in Turkey, where gun laws are strict and illegal possession carries severe penalties.
Edited by: Rana Taha