Shooting at Turkish High School Leaves Sixteen Injured

A shooting incident at a high school in south-eastern Turkey has left at least 16 individuals injured, including students and teachers. The incident took place at the Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School located in the Siverek district. According to local governor Hasan Şildak, the assailant, described as a teenager in his late teens, opened fire with a shotgun before ultimately turning the weapon on himself when cornered by police.

The attack occurred around 09:30 local time (06:30 GMT) and resulted in injuries to 10 students, four teachers, a cafeteria staff member, and a police officer. The wounded were promptly transported to nearby hospitals, and five individuals later required transfer to facilities in the Sanliurfa city centre for further medical attention.

The motives behind this violent act remain unclear, and the local authorities have launched an investigation. Governor Şildak noted that the attacker did not have a prior criminal record and that the school was previously deemed safe by law enforcement.

Eyewitness accounts from the scene describe a chaotic atmosphere as the assailant indiscriminately fired upon those present. One witness conveyed, “He [the gunman] was a kid, about 17-18 years old. Suddenly, he walked through the front door (of the school yard)... He immediately started shooting left and right.” Another injured student recounted a terrifying experience, stating, “First we threw ourselves to the ground, then two of us jumped out of the window. He didn’t say anything to us, he just came in and started shooting.”

School shootings are a rarity in Turkey, making this incident particularly shocking. Local media also reported that the gunman had recently issued threats on the school’s social media accounts, asserting that an attack would happen “in a few days.” Authorities are now conducting interviews and collecting evidence to piece together the events leading up to the attack, assessing the implications of this tragic situation. The school has since been evacuated following the incident. No further details have been released regarding the ongoing investigation.