A school shooting rampage in Turkey has left at least 18 people injured after a former student opened fire with a hunting rifle.
Special security forces were deployed to the Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the Siverek district of Sanliurfa province following the brutal attack on Tuesday.
Students and teachers have since been evacuated from the scene.
Governor Hasan Sildak told local media that the gunman, 19, took his own life with his weapon when police attempted to capture him.
‘He took his own life when cornered by police,’ the governor said.
‘We have evacuated the school and will carry out a thorough investigation into this tragic incident,’ he added.
Sildak said the attacker was a former student of the school and entered the school grounds before he began firing randomly.
Television footage showed ambulances standing by outside the school as students fled the building.
Following the incident, the wounded students and teachers were rushed to the local hospital in Siverek. Twelve of the injured remain in the hospital.
A witness to the incident told local news outlet Turkiye Today that the suspect entered the high school yard with a long-barreled weapon before opening fire.
‘He first opened fire in the yard and then directly at the school,’ the witness said.
Local reports also claim that the gunman took some of the students hostage after entering the school.
The motive remains unclear. School shootings are rare in Turkey.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
