A rare wave of school violence shocks the nation.
A 14-year-old student has killed nine people and injured 13 others after opening fire inside a middle school in Kahramanmaras, marking Turkey’s second school shooting in just two days.
According to Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci, the attacker entered two classrooms armed with multiple weapons and opened fire. Six of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. The gunman, identified as Isa Aras Mersinli, was later killed, though it remains unclear whether he was shot by police or took his own life.
Authorities said the weapons used in the attack likely belonged to the suspect’s father, a retired police officer, who has since been detained for questioning. Officials are still investigating the motive behind the shooting.
The attack comes just a day after another shooting in Sanliurfa, where a former student wounded 16 people before killing himself. School shootings have historically been rare in Turkey, making the back-to-back incidents especially alarming.
In response, authorities have restricted the broadcast of graphic images and urged media outlets to rely on official updates. Parents rushed to the school as news of the attack spread, highlighting the panic and fear within the community.
The incidents have raised urgent questions about safety, access to firearms, and youth violence in the country.
Turkey now faces growing pressure to address security gaps and prevent further tragedies.