Tragedy struck the Kahramanmaras province in southern Turkey on Wednesday after a 13-year-old student opened fire at a school. The violent attack left nine people dead and 13 others wounded, sending shockwaves through a region where mass shootings are rare.
Terrified students reportedly jumped from first-floor windows to escape the gunfire while others fled through the school courtyard. Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci confirmed that six of the wounded are in intensive care, with three currently in critical condition.
Attacker used father’s weapons before his death
Governor Mukerrem Unluer told reporters that the attacker, an eighth-grade student, was the son of a former police officer. The suspect allegedly brought five guns and seven magazines to the school hidden inside his backpack.
The governor revealed that the attacker died during the incident, though it remains unclear if it was a suicide or occurred during the chaos. Police have since detained the suspect’s father, Ugur Mersinli, as investigations into the source of the weapons continue.
President Erdogan vows accountability for negligence
This attack marks the second school shooting in Turkey in just two days, following a similar incident in the Siverek district. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has promised that those found to be negligent or at fault will be held strictly accountable.
Opposition leaders have called for broader security measures, including increased patrols and better control at school entrances. The government has ordered the school to remain closed for four days as the country mourns the victims of this rare surge in school violence.
