Sixteen people were injured after an ex-student opened fire at a high school in south-eastern Turkey, according to local authorities. The incident took place at around 09:30 local time (06:30 GMT) at the Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Siverek district, as reported by local governor Hasan Şildak.

Attack Details and Casualties

The attacker. Who was in his late teens. Fired ‘indiscriminately with a shotgun’ before killing himself with the weapon, according to local governor Hasan Şildak, but those injured include 10 students, four teachers, a cafeteria worker, and a police officer, he said. The school has since been evacuated. And the wounded were taken to hospital, with five later transferred to other facilities for further treatment.

One witness told IHA News that the attacker was a boy, about 17-18 years old, who walked through the front door of the school yard and pulled out a gun. The witness described the weapon as a long, stocky one, like one of those pump-action shotguns with rims. He immediately started shooting left and right, then fired towards the school and ran inside, shooting at anyone who came in front of him.

Witness Accounts and Student Testimony

The witness said that with the students’ screams and the teachers’ screams, everyone immediately scattered. One of the injured students, Ömer Furkan Sayar, told TRT, Turkey’s state broadcaster, that the gunman went into at least two classrooms, including his own. ‘First we threw ourselves to the ground, then two of us jumped out of the window,’ he said. ‘He didn’t say anything to us, he just came in and started shooting.’

According to Şildak, the attacker had no criminal record and that the school was considered safe by police. An investigation into the incident has been launched to determine the motive and circumstances behind the attack.

Response and Aftermath

Local authorities have confirmed that the school was evacuated immediately after the shooting, and emergency services were on the scene to assist the injured. The attacker’s actions were described as indiscriminate, with no specific target identified. The police have not yet released any further details about the motive behind the attack.

Authorities are working closely with school officials and medical personnel to provide support to those affected. The community has been left in shock, with many questioning how such an event could occur at a school deemed safe by local authorities.

As the investigation continues, officials are urging the public to provide any information that could help in understanding the incident. The attacker’s identity and the full circumstances surrounding the attack are still being explored by law enforcement.

The incident has raised concerns about school safety and the need for increased security measures in educational institutions. Local officials have stated that they are reviewing the protocols in place to prevent such incidents in the future.

The attacker’s decision to take his own life after the shooting has added another layer of complexity to the investigation. Authorities are working to determine whether there were any warning signs or indicators that could have prevented the attack.

The community is coming together to support those affected, with local leaders expressing their condolences and offering assistance to the families of the injured. The attack has left a lasting impact on the school and the surrounding area, with many hoping for answers and reassurance that such an event will not happen again.