Turkey is grappling with a rare but devastating surge in school violence after a 14-year-old student unleashed gunfire at his school in the southern province of Kahramanmaras on Wednesday, killing nine people and wounding 13 others in what marks the second mass shooting at an educational facility in as many days.
The attack unfolded when the eighth-grade student arrived at school with five firearms and seven magazines—weapons believed to belong to his father, a former police officer. He entered two separate classrooms and fired indiscriminately at students and staff, creating scenes of chaos and terror across the campus.
Dramatic video footage captured the horror of the moment, showing students leaping from first-floor windows to escape the barrage of gunfire while others fled frantically through the school courtyard. The footage, which captured approximately 15 gunshots, offers a chilling glimpse into the pandemonium that gripped the school during the attack.
"A student came to school with guns that we believe belonged to his father in his backpack. He entered two classrooms and opened fire randomly, causing injuries and deaths," said Kahramanmaras province governor Mukerrem Unluer during a briefing to reporters.
Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed that nine people were killed in the shooting, with 13 others sustaining injuries. Of those wounded, six were admitted to intensive care, and three were listed in critical condition.
Shooter Dies During Incident
The attacker died during the rampage, though officials have not yet determined whether his death was an act of suicide or occurred amid the chaos of the assault. Governor Unluer stated that the shooter "shot himself," but acknowledged uncertainty surrounding the exact circumstances of his death.
Police have taken the shooter's father, Ugur Mersinli, into custody as investigators work to piece together the events that led to the tragedy. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced that prosecutors have launched an immediate investigation into the incident.
Second Attack in 24 Hours Shocks Nation
The Kahramanmaras shooting comes just one day after another armed attacker opened fire at a vocational high school in Siverek district of Sanliurfa province on Tuesday. That 18-year-old gunman used a shotgun to fire randomly through the school, wounding 16 people—including 10 students—before being cornered by police and taking his own life.
The back-to-back incidents have sent shockwaves through Turkey, a country where school shootings remain exceptionally uncommon. The rapid succession of violence has raised urgent questions about school safety and access to firearms in the nation.
Emergency responders flooded both locations, with ambulances and police securing the areas as traumatized parents rushed to schools seeking news of their children. Television footage showed scenes of anguish as families grappled with the devastating toll of the attacks.
This article is based on reporting from CBS News and AFP. For more information, visit the original story at CBS News.