On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, an 18-year-old former student opened fire at the Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Siverek, Şanlıurfa province, Turkey.
The attack left 16 people wounded, including 10 students, four teachers, a school canteen employee, and one police officer.
The shooter, armed with a pump-action shotgun, began firing indiscriminately in the school yard at approximately 09:30 local time before entering the building. Students were seen fleeing and jumping from windows to escape.
After being cornered by police special operations units inside the school, the attacker took his own life.
Most victims were treated in Siverek, but five individuals with more serious injuries were transferred to hospitals in the provincial capital of Şanlıurfa.
Governor Hasan Şıldak stated that the attacker had no prior criminal record and that the school had recently been classified as safe.
While a formal motive has not yet been confirmed, local reports suggest the assailant had posted threats on social media a few days prior.
School shootings are extremely rare in Turkey, and this incident has sparked renewed national discussions regarding school security measures.
