A shocking attack unfolded at a vocational high school in southeast Turkey on Tuesday when an 18-year-old former student opened fire on the campus, leaving at least 16 people wounded before taking his own life.
The assailant, armed with a shotgun, fired randomly through the hallways of the school in Siverek, Sanliurfa province, before barricading himself inside the building. Police special operations units surrounded the structure after the gunman refused to surrender. He ultimately shot himself with the same weapon used in the attack, according to provincial governor Hasan Sildak.
The victims included 10 students, four teachers, a canteen employee, and a police officer. While most were treated locally in Siverek, five individuals with more serious injuries were transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital for specialized care.
Chaotic Evacuation Caught on Video
Video footage captured the terrifying scene as dozens of students fled the school building, streaming toward the gates and onto nearby streets. One student, Omer Furkan Sayar, described the moment the gunman entered his classroom without warning.
"He suddenly entered the classroom and fired. He fired four or five times. Two people were hit. He then went into the next classroom," Sayar told the state-run Anadolu Agency. "We first threw ourselves to the ground and then two of us jumped out of the window."
Sayar added that the attacker "didn't say anything" before opening fire, firing directly at students inside the classroom.
Social Media Threats Preceded Attack
While the motive for the shooting remains unclear, media reports indicate the gunman had threatened an attack on the school through social media prior to Tuesday's incident. Governor Sildak noted that the 18-year-old had no criminal record and was not known to police.
Sildak described the shooting as an "isolated incident," adding that the school had been declared safe and did not have a permanent police officer assigned to provide security.
Rare Act of Violence in Turkey
School shootings remain uncommon in Turkey, making Tuesday's attack a shocking breach of what is typically a safer educational environment. The provincial government has announced a comprehensive investigation into the shooting to determine how the attack occurred and what warning signs may have been missed.
This article is based on reporting from CBC World and international news agencies covering the incident in Turkey.