An 18-year-old former student opened fire at a vocational high school in southeastern Turkey on Tuesday, wounding at least 16 people before killing himself, authorities said.
Background
The attack occurred at a vocational high school in Siverek, Sanliurfa province. The shooter, armed with a shotgun, fired randomly inside the school before being cornered by police, according to Governor Hasan Sildak. The attacker then killed himself with the same weapon.
The victims included 10 students, four teachers, a canteen employee and a police officer. While most victims were being treated in Siverek, five teachers and students were transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital due to the severity of their conditions.
Investigators are examining the attacker's background, which revealed no prior criminal record. However, NTV television and other media reports indicated the assailant had threatened an attack on the school through social media prior to the shooting. This detail has raised questions about whether warning signs were missed.
School shootings are exceptionally rare in Turkey, making this incident an outlier in the nation's history of mass violence. The attack follows a pattern observed in other recent school shootings worldwide, where perpetrators often manifest warning behaviors on social media platforms before carrying out attacks.
The Investigation
Governor Sildak told reporters the attacker was cornered inside the building through police intervention and died after shooting himself. He added that a comprehensive investigation into the shooting would be carried out.
The school has been declared safe, though authorities noted no permanent police officer had been assigned to protect the institution. This detail is likely to prompt scrutiny of school security protocols in Turkey, particularly at vocational institutions.
One student witness, identified as Omer Furkan Sayar by the state-run Anadolu Agency, described the attacker's movements through the school. 'He suddenly entered the classroom and fired. He fired four or five times. Two people were hit. He then went into the next classroom,' Sayar said. 'We first threw ourselves to the ground and then two of us jumped out of the window.'
Video footage captured by witnesses showed dozens of students running from the school toward the gate and onto the street as police special operations units responded to the scene.
Key Takeaways
- At least 16 people wounded in shooting at vocational high school in Siverek, Turkey
- Attacker identified as 18-year-old former student, armed with shotgun
- Victims include 10 students, 4 teachers, 1 canteen employee and 1 police officer
- Gunman died after being cornered by police, using same shotgun
- Attacker had no criminal record but allegedly posted threat on social media
- Five victims transferred to provincial capital hospital for advanced treatment
What's Next
Turkish authorities will continue their comprehensive investigation into the shooting, examining the attacker's digital communications and any potential warning signs that may have been missed. The investigation will likely focus on how the social media threat was handled and whether additional security measures could have prevented the attack. The motives behind the shooting remain unclear as of this report.