Kahramanmaraş, April 15, 2026: At least nine people were killed and 13 others injured in a tragic school shooting in central Türkiye on Wednesday, marking the second such incident in as many days, authorities confirmed.
Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci stated that six of the injured were in intensive care, with three in critical condition. The attack took place in the city of Kahramanmaraş, where a 13-year-old student opened fire inside a school earlier in the day.
According to Mukerrem Unluer, the assailant brought multiple firearms to school, reportedly belonging to his father, a former police officer. The student entered two classrooms and fired indiscriminately, causing multiple casualties.
“A student came to school with guns that we believe belonged to his father in his backpack. He entered two classrooms and opened fire randomly, causing injuries and deaths,” Unluer told reporters.
Initial reports indicated that a teacher and three students were among the victims, while the attacker also died. Authorities said he was carrying five firearms and seven magazines. Officials believe he shot himself, though it remains unclear whether it was a suicide or occurred amid the chaos.
Footage released by local media showed ambulances evacuating victims as distraught parents gathered outside the school. Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area, and emergency services transported the injured to nearby hospitals.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek confirmed that prosecutors had launched an immediate investigation into the incident. Authorities are examining how the minor obtained access to the weapons and whether lapses in oversight contributed to the tragedy.
The attack follows another school shooting on Tuesday in the Siverek district of Şanlıurfa province, where a former student opened fire at his previous high school. Sixteen people were wounded before the assailant killed himself during a confrontation with police. Ten students were among the injured.
Responding to the incidents, Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed strict accountability. Addressing lawmakers from the ruling AK Party in parliament, he pledged that those found negligent would be held responsible.
“Those found to have been negligent or at fault will certainly be held accountable,” Erdoğan said. He also confirmed that one suspect had been detained in connection with Tuesday’s attack and that four officials had been suspended. The affected school was ordered closed for four days.
School shootings have historically been rare in Turkiye, which enforces stringent firearm regulations, including licensing, registration, background checks, and strict penalties for illegal possession. However, recent incidents have raised concerns about school safety and gun access.
In May 2024, a former student fatally shot a private high school principal in Istanbul, highlighting growing anxieties over isolated acts of violence in educational institutions.
The latest tragedies have sparked nationwide grief and renewed calls for enhanced security measures and stricter enforcement of firearm controls to ensure student safety.
