Ex-pupil wounds 16 in Turkey school shooting

An ex-student opened fire at his former high school Tuesday in Turkey, wounding 16 people including students before killing himself in a showdown with police, officials said.

Special security forces were deployed to the school in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, where students were evacuated, the local governor, Hasan Sildak, told reporters.

Television footage showed ambulances outside the school in the Siverek district as students fled in panic.

Attacker takes own life

Sildak identified the attacker as a former student at the school, born in 2007.

“He took his own life when cornered by police,” the governor said.

“We have evacuated the school and will carry out a thorough investigation into this tragic incident,” he added.

“Despite taking all necessary precautions regarding the safety of our schools, such isolated incidents can still occur. The required investigation will be carried out”.

The governor, who inspected the school, said the attacker “randomly opened fire in the corridor with a pump-action shotgun”.

According to initial findings, 10 students, four teachers, one police officer, and one cafeteria operator were injured in the attack, the interior ministry said on X.

“The individual who carried out the attack with a shotgun committed suicide with the same weapon following the incident,” the ministry said.

School safety

School shootings in Turkey are rare. In May 2024, a former student killed a private high school principal in Istanbul with a firearm five months after he was expelled.

The assailant — reportedly of Iraqi origin — fled after the shooting and was arrested later.

The killing of the 74-year-old school principal triggered nationwide debate while thousands of teachers demonstrated in Istanbul calling for increased school safety measures.

Turkey has strict gun laws that require licensing, registration, mental and criminal background checks, and severe penalties for illegal possession.