April 15, 2026 | 04:55 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A teenage attacker opened fire inside a vocational high school in Siverek, in Turkey’s Sanliurfa province, before taking his own life with the same shotgun, local authorities said.
The attacker was identified as a former student at the school, born in 2007.
What Do We Know About the Attack?
According to Governor Hasan Sildak, the Tuesday attack left 16 people injured, including 10 students, four teachers, a canteen employee and a police officer.
Most of the injured were treated in Siverek, while five of the teachers and students were transferred to a hospital in the regional capital due to the serious nature of their injuries.
The governor said the attacker "randomly opened fire in the corridor with a pump-action shotgun."
Witness footage from inside the school showed students fleeing in panic, running through corridors and out onto the street. Videos also captured the attacker moving through the building while firing.
One student told the state-run Anadolu Agency that he and a classmate escaped by jumping out of a classroom window.
"He suddenly entered the classroom and fired. He didn't say anything. He fired four or five times. Two people were hit. He then went into the next classroom," the student said.
What Is the Situation Now?
Authorities said the motive for the shooting remains unclear. Officials also noted that the suspect did not have a prior criminal record. However, media reports suggest he may have posted threats on social media before the attack.
Police described the shooting as an isolated incident and confirmed that the school has been secured. A "comprehensive" investigation is now underway, Governor Sildak said.
School shootings are rare in Turkey, where gun laws are strict and penalties for illegal possession are severe.
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