Turkey School Shooting Leaves Eight Students Injured

At least eight students were injured after a student opened fire near a high school in Turkey’s western Manisa province on Tuesday, September 22. Two of the injured students were reported to be in critical condition.

The shooting took place near the Inci Uzmez Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the Turgutlu district. The local governor’s office said authorities received a report of gunfire in the area at around 7:59 a.m. local time.

The suspected attacker was arrested shortly after the incident, according to the governor’s office. The motive behind the shooting was not immediately known, and authorities were investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Videos and images shared online appeared to show a male figure carrying a rifle while walking along a street close to the school. In another part of the footage, the individual could be seen running back along the same road. The authenticity and circumstances of the footage were not immediately independently established.

The incident has renewed concerns about school safety in Turkey, which has faced a number of serious shooting incidents in recent months. Two deadly school shootings in April reportedly caused widespread public concern and prompted authorities to introduce additional security measures ahead of the 2026-27 academic year.

The measures announced following those incidents included tighter controls relating to firearms and increased attention to security around educational institutions.

Turkey had historically not experienced school shootings on the scale seen in some other countries, making the recent incidents particularly concerning for authorities and families.

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci and Education Minister Yusuf Tekin were travelling to Manisa following the latest incident. The ministers were expected to assess the situation and inspect security arrangements in the affected area.

Officials have not yet released further details about the suspected shooter or confirmed what led to the attack. Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, including how the firearm was obtained and whether the attacker had any connection to the school or the victims.

The latest shooting comes at a time when Turkish authorities are reviewing security measures at schools across the country. Further details are expected as the investigation progresses.