Second school shooting 'leaves four dead and 20 wounded' in Turkey

At least four people were killed, and 20 others were wounded during a shooting at a school in Turkey on Wednesday.

The armed attack, carried out by a 15-year-old pupil, took place at the Ayser Calık Secondary School in Kahramanmaras, in what is the second such shooting in the country in just two days.

Kahramanmaras Governor Mukerrem Unluer confirmed in a statement that four people had lost their lives during the attack, including a teacher and three students.

Speaking to reporters at the scene, the governor said the attacker was an eighth-grade boy who had brought weapons into the school before carrying out the shooting and dying at the scene.

'The 8th-grade student who caused the incident is one of our students, and his father is a former police officer. We suspect he took his weapons,' Unluer said. 

'He came with five guns and seven magazines and entered two classrooms.

'He also passed away. He shot himself during the commotion. Whether it was suicide or if he shot himself during the commotion is currently unknown. 

'Unfortunately, we have four fatalities. One of them was a teacher, and three were students. We also have 20 injured, four of whom are currently undergoing surgery and are believed to be in critical condition,' he added.

No other details were immediately available, and local authorities have stated that the attacker's identity has not yet been determined. 

Following the initial reports of the shooting, emergency medical teams and ambulances were immediately dispatched to the scene. 

Images from the scene captured pupils and teachers fleeing the school building, with people even seen frantically jumping from open windows.

Eyewitnesses told local media that parents also rushed to the school, where they were seen embracing their children before running in panic. Some also said that intense gunfire was heard during the incident.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that security forces have launched a full investigation and are working to secure the area and support affected families.

According to a statement from the Kahramanmaras Public Prosecutor's Office, a total of seven prosecutors have been assigned, including three deputy chief prosecutors and four prosecutors.

Kahramanmaras' Chief Public Prosecutor Ramazan Murat Tiryaki also confirmed: 'Upon the incident reaching our judicial authorities, I, along with three deputy chief public prosecutors and six public prosecutors, initiated an investigation. 

'Our colleagues are currently continuing their investigations. We are examining it from all angles. We have 20 injured. 

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'Currently, only the perpetrator's body is at the school. Our forensic experts are arriving. Our colleagues are handling the matter.' 

It comes just a day after a 17-year-old gunman stormed a school in Turkey's Siverek district, leaving 16 people injured.

The attacker then took his own life with his shotgun when police attempted to apprehend him at the scene. 

Governor Hasan Sildak said the shooter was a former student of the school and entered the school grounds before he began firing randomly. 

The assailant had attended the school for one year in the ninth grade, the governor added. 

He also confirmed that the attacker had no prior criminal record and that the school had previously been classified as safe by police. 

An official statement issued by the Turkish interior ministry said that a total of 10 students, four teachers, one police officer and one canteen operator were injured in the attack. 

Speaking to the ruling AKP party in parliament, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised that those found to have been negligent or at fault 'will certainly be held accountable' over the school shootings.

Police detained one suspect after Tuesday's attack and suspended four officials from duty, Erdogan said. The school was ordered closed for four days.

School shootings in Turkey had been rare until this week. In May 2024, a former student killed a private high school principal in Istanbul with a firearm five months after he was expelled.

Turkey has strict gun laws that require licensing, registration, mental and criminal background checks, and severe penalties for illegal possession.