Sixteen Injured in High School Shooting by Ex-Student in Turkey

A violent incident occurred at the Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Siverek district, southeastern Turkey, around 09:30 local time (06:30 GMT). The attacker, a former student in his late teens, used a shotgun to fire randomly before taking his own life, according to local governor Hasan Şildak.

The injured include ten students, four educators, a cafeteria worker, and a police officer. Following the attack, the school was evacuated, and all victims were transported to nearby hospitals, with five later moved to different facilities for specialized care. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident.

Details of the Attack

Şildak noted that the perpetrator had no prior criminal history and that the institution was regarded as secure by police. A witness described the attacker as a 17- to 18-year-old who entered the school yard through the front door.

“He was a kid, about 17-18 years old. He walked through the front door, then pulled out a gun. It was a long, stocky one, like a pump-action shotgun with rims,” the witness said to IHA News.

“He immediately began shooting left and right. After aiming at the school, he ran inside and targeted anyone in his path. With the chaos of students and teachers screaming, everyone scattered quickly,” the witness added.

Student Account of the Event

One of the injured students, Ömer Furkan Sayar, shared with TRT, Turkey’s state broadcaster, that the gunman entered at least two classrooms, including his own. “First we dropped to the ground, then two of us climbed out the window. He didn’t say anything—he just walked in and started shooting,” Sayar recounted.