A stabbing incident occurred at a middle school in Istanbul's Başakşehir district on Tuesday, leaving eight pupils injured. According to Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, the attacker was a female student from a different school who entered the school in her uniform and stabbed the children indiscriminately. The incident took place at around 8:40 am local time at a school in the Kayaşehir neighbourhood.
The injured students were taken to a hospital where they received medical treatment. Governor Gül visited the hospital and reported that five students had slight injuries and were expected to be discharged later that day. Two others were still being treated, but their injuries were not life-threatening. One child was undergoing surgery, and the governor could not assess their condition until the operation ended.
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu earlier stated that one student was in critical condition. However, Governor Gül did not confirm this assessment. The governor described the attacker as a female student who lives in the same neighbourhood and attends a different school. The police detained the student and launched an investigation into the incident.
Footage shared on social media showed ambulances on the school site and panicked students. The Hürriyet Daily reported that the police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack. The incident has raised concerns about school safety and the well-being of students in Istanbul.
The Istanbul Governor's office and the Ministry of Education have not released a joint statement on the incident. However, Governor Gül assured the public that the authorities were working to determine the motives behind the attack. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are reviewing security footage and interviewing witnesses.
The stabbing incident at the Istanbul middle school has sparked a national conversation about student safety and mental health. Education experts and policymakers are calling for increased support for students and improved school security measures. The incident highlights the need for schools to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.
The authorities have not disclosed the identity of the attacker or the students injured in the incident. The students' families have been informed, and counseling services are being provided to support them. The school has been placed on lockdown while the investigation continues, and students are being taught remotely until further notice.
Key points
- Eight pupils were injured in a stabbing incident at an Istanbul middle school on Tuesday.
- The attacker, a female student from a different school, was detained by the police and is being investigated.
- The injured students are receiving medical treatment, with five expected to be discharged later in the day.
