A shooting occurred near a high school in the town of Turgutlu, Manisa Province, in western Turkey, injuring eight people including students. Authorities dispatched police and medical teams to the area before apprehending the suspect. Officials have ordered increased security measures around schools and have launched both criminal and administrative investigations into the incident.
A shooting took place near a high school in the Turgutlu district of Manisa Province in western Turkey this morning (22 Sep), resulting in eight initial injuries. Reports indicate some of the injured were students. The incident occurred at approximately 08:00 local time near İnci Özmez Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the Albayrak neighborhood of Turgutlu.
According to initial reports, the unidentified suspect fired a gun randomly in the area for unknown reasons before fleeing the scene. The event caused significant panic around the school as many parents rushed there to check on their children's safety.
Upon receiving the report, police and numerous medical teams were dispatched to the scene. Medical personnel provided aid to the injured before transporting them to Turgutlu State Hospital for treatment. Local media reported at least one of the injured is in critical condition.
The governor of Manisa issued a statement saying that at approximately 07:59, authorities were alerted to a shooting near İnci Özmez Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Turgutlu district. Police and medical teams were immediately sent to the scene. Preliminary checks confirmed eight people were affected, all of whom were taken to nearby medical facilities.
Authorities confirmed that they have apprehended the suspect believed to be responsible for the shooting and are holding the individual for questioning.
The governor of Manisa stated that criminal and administrative investigations have commenced to determine the cause and details of the incident, and promised to provide further information to the public as the inquiry progresses.
Following news of the shooting, many parents rushed to the school to contact and pick up their children, leading to disorder outside the premises. Security personnel increased their presence to control the area and established barriers around the school. Reports indicate confrontations occurred between anxious parents and police before authorities managed to restore order.
The Radio and Television Supreme Council of Turkey (RTÜK) issued a warning to media outlets to rely on information from official authorities, avoid broadcasting violent footage from the incident, and refrain from sharing unverified or speculative reports. They cautioned that disseminating content that disturbs societal feelings or promotes violence may result in legal action.
This incident is the latest shooting in Turkey. Previously, in April, a 14-year-old boy used a firearm at a school in Kahramanmaraş Province, killing nine students aged 10 and 11 and one teacher before the perpetrator died at the scene.
Another event in Şanlıurfa Province in southeastern Turkey involved a former student who opened fire at his former high school, injuring 16 people before committing suicide when confronted by police.
These shootings have sparked public outrage in Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ordered the dismissal of the Deputy Minister of Education and stated that the government would implement additional measures to address the issue, including tighter restrictions on firearm ownership.
,Türkiye Today/BBC News Türkçe/ AFP