A 14-year-old student shot dead at least nine people, including eight classmates, and injured 13 others at an elementary school in southeastern Turkey, this Wednesday (15), local authorities said, in the second shooting attack at schools in the country in two days.
Eight students and a teacher died in the attack in Kahramanmaraş province, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci told reporters, adding that six of the injured were in serious condition.
“This was a purely personal attack carried out by one of our students, not a terrorist act,” Ciftci said.
Previously, Kahramanmaraş Governor Mukerrem Unluer had said that the gunman killed himself during the confusion.
“An eighth grader arrived with five guns and seven magazines — which we believe belonged to his father, a former police officer — in his backpack, entered two classrooms with fifth graders, causing deaths and injuries indiscriminately,” Unluer said.
In Türkiye, fifth graders are usually between 10 and 11 years old. School shootings are very rare in the country.
Asked by reporters whether authorities would take any action following this week’s attacks, Ciftci said: “We will take the necessary precautions,” without elaborating.
NTV broadcaster reported that the shooter’s father was detained.
Gun laws are generally strict in Türkiye, allowing only individuals over the age of 21 and who hold a license to be allowed to own weapons. However, weapons are common in the country, and many security officers are permitted to carry and possess weapons.
Unverified footage showed several students jumping from a window on the school’s second floor as gunshots rang out. Unverified footage from school security cameras showed the gunman shooting at two students walking down a hallway.
Turkish media footage of the crime scene on Wednesday showed ambulances arriving at the school, where police and crowds had gathered at the gate.
On Tuesday, a former student opened fire at a school in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, including students and teachers, before killing himself.
