Ex-Student Opens Fire at Siverek High School, Wounds 16 Before Taking Own Life

A former student opened fire inside a vocational high school in Siverek, Sanliurfa province on Tuesday, injuring at least 16 people before fatally shooting himself, local officials confirmed.

According to Governor Hasan Sildak, the 18-year-old assailant, armed with a shotgun, entered the school and fired randomly at students and staff. The attack left 10 students, four teachers, a canteen worker, and a police officer wounded. Most of the injured received treatment in Siverek, while five individuals in more serious condition were transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital.

Authorities stated that police special operations units responded after the attacker refused to surrender, eventually cornering him inside the school building. The suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Governor Sildak.

The official noted that the attacker, who lacked a prior criminal record, had previously made threats toward the school on social media, as reported by Turkish broadcasters. Despite these threats, no permanent police presence had been assigned to the school, which had earlier been declared safe by local authorities.

Students recounted the chaos, with one telling state-run media that he escaped by jumping out of a classroom window after the shooter fired multiple times and proceeded to another room. Video footage from the scene showed students fleeing the campus as police secured the area.

School shootings are considered rare in Turkey, and the motive behind this incident remains under investigation. Authorities have opened a comprehensive inquiry to determine the circumstances leading up to the attack. As of Tuesday, all students have been evacuated and the building secured, while several of the wounded continue to receive hospital care.