A 14-year-old student shot at least nine people dead including eight of his fellow pupils and wounded 13 others at a middle school in southeastern Turkey on Wednesday (April 15), officials said, in the country's second school shooting in two days.
Eight students and one teacher died in the attack in the province of Kahramanmaras, Turkey's Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci told reporters, adding that six of the wounded were in intensive care, with three in critical condition.
Earlier, Kahramanmaras Governor Mukerrem Unluer had said the shooter had shot and killed himself in the commotion. He added that the shooter had 5 weapons and seven magazine, which was believed to belong to his former police officer father.
School shootings are very rare in Turkey. Broadcaster NTV said the shooter's father had been detained.
Gun laws are generally strict in Turkey, with only individuals aged over 21 and in possession of a license allowed to own weapons. However, guns are widespread in Turkey, with many security officers allowed to carry and own arms.
On Tuesday (April 14), a former student opened fire at a school in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, wounding at least 16 people, including students and teachers, before killing himself.
