At least 16 people, mostly students, have been injured in a shooting at a vocational high school in Siverek, a city in Turkey’s southeastern Sanliurfa province, local authorities have confirmed. The attacker, identified as an 18-year-old former student, opened fire with a shotgun in the school yard before entering the building and taking his own life, according to Sanliurfa Governor Hasan Sildak.
Police reported that among the wounded were ten students, four teachers, a police officer, and a canteen operator. Footage from the scene showed students fleeing the school in panic as the incident unfolded. One teacher is said to be in serious condition, according to broadcaster NTV.
Early reports suggested the gunman had taken several students hostage before special forces surrounded the building. He reportedly refused to surrender and later committed suicide with the same weapon.
Authorities are investigating the attacker’s motives, while the incident has raised fresh concerns over school safety in the region. The attack follows a string of violent episodes in educational settings globally, including a recent stabbing at a kindergarten in Uganda that left multiple children dead.
Officials have not yet released further details on the suspect’s background or potential warning signs prior to the attack.
