A gunman, identified as a teenager, opened fire outside a high school in Turgutlu, near the western city of Izmir, on Tuesday, wounding 11 pupils. The incident occurred in the country's third school shooting in six months, sparking concerns about security in Turkish schools. The victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, with three of them in serious condition.
Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci provided an update on the condition of the victims, stating that 10 minors were undergoing treatment, including three in intensive care. One victim had been discharged, and the minister confirmed that all of the victims were minors. The suspect's parents and grandfather were detained for questioning over the attack.
According to Ciftci, the attack involved a gun registered in the name of the suspect's grandmother, which was kept at the grandparents' home. The interior minister added that new security measures installed in response to previous attacks had been in place at the time of Tuesday's shooting. The school where the shooting occurred was classified as "one of those with first-degree risk," based on the numbers and types of crimes in the area.
Eyewitnesses described the scene, with one resident telling the IHA news agency that they saw the gunman moments after the attack, appearing to be angry. Another eyewitness told IHA that they heard gunshots and saw the gunman swearing and shouting as he walked towards a side street. CCTV footage of the alleged attacker was broadcast, showing a young man wearing black jeans, a jacket, and a green top, holding a long-barreled gun.
The DHA news agency reported that the weapon used in the attack was a shotgun. Footage from outside the school showed police wrestling a man to the ground before leading him away, as a woman screamed. Onlookers were pressed against the school fence, filming with their mobile phones. The education ministry suspended all lessons for the day at the school.
The attack comes after a series of school shootings in Turkey, including two incidents in April that shocked the nation. In one of the incidents, a 14-year-old opened fire at a school in Kahramanmaras, killing a teacher and nine students. The attacker died at the scene. Following the attacks, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to introduce tighter gun controls and prioritize school safety.
In response to the recent shootings, the government has deployed 31,000 school grounds supervisors and assigned police officers on permanent duty to first- and second-degree risk schools. The interior minister said that these measures were in place to prevent such incidents and ensure school safety. An investigation into the attack is ongoing, with authorities looking into how the weapon ended up in the minor's hands and allegations of bullying prior to the incident.
Key points
- The shooting occurred in a school classified as "first-degree risk" due to the numbers and types of crimes in the area.
- The suspect's parents and grandfather were detained for questioning over the attack.
- The government has deployed 31,000 school grounds supervisors and assigned police officers on permanent duty to high-risk schools.
