AP —
A former student opened fire at a high school in southeastern Turkey on Tuesday, injuring at least 16 people before killing himself, officials said.
The 18-year-old attacker, armed with a shotgun, fired indiscriminately at a vocational high school in Sibelek, Sanliurfa province, before hiding inside the building. He later committed suicide with the same shotgun, according to Governor Hassan Sirdak.
The attack left 10 students, four teachers, one cafeteria worker and one police officer injured, Schildak said. Most of them were being treated in Sibelek, the governor said, but five of the injured teachers and students were in more serious condition and were taken to a hospital in the provincial capital.
The motive for the attack remains unclear. School shootings are rare in Turkey.
Earlier, media reports said all students were evacuated and police special operations units were called in after the assailants refused to surrender.
“The individual was cornered inside the building by police intervention and died after shooting himself,” Schildak told reporters, adding that a “comprehensive” investigation into the shooting would be carried out.
Video footage showed dozens of students rushing out of the school toward the school gates and running onto the street.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
