An attacker opened fire near a high school in western Turkiye on September 22, 2026, wounding 11 people, according to Al Jazeera. The incident occurred at approximately 08:00 local time outside the İnci Üzmez Vocational and Technical High School in the Turgutlu district of Manisa province, west of the resort city of Izmir.
Shooting Near Western Turkiye High School Leaves 11 Students Wounded
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek stated that two of the wounded students were in critical condition. All 11 individuals injured in the attack were students who suffered pellet wounds after the gunman fired randomly outside the school building. Emergency police and medical teams were dispatched immediately to the location, and the injured were rushed to local hospitals for treatment. Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu confirmed that treatment for the 11 wounded individuals is ongoing.
Suspect Arrested Alongside Parents and Grandfather
The suspected shooter, identified as a student at the school, was apprehended by security forces shortly after the incident. Media reports from outlets such as HaberTurk indicated that the assailant arrived armed with a shotgun taken from his grandfather’s house.
Authorities expanded their custody measures as the investigation unfolded. Justice Minister Gurlek announced that the suspect’s parents and grandfather—who owned the weapon used in the attack—were also detained. Officials launched both judicial and administrative investigations into the shooting. Two chief prosecutors were appointed to examine multiple angles, including the circumstances of how the student obtained the firearm, weapon storage conditions, parental care and supervision obligations, and potential prior bullying.
Government Officials Respond and Investigate
The attack drew immediate responses from high-ranking government figures. Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz addressed the incident during a meeting at the presidential complex. Meanwhile, National Education Minister Yusuf Tekin canceled scheduled programs in Trabzon and Gümüşhane, traveling by air to Manisa to oversee the situation firsthand.
The Ministry of Education deployed psychosocial support teams to the school to begin rehabilitation activities for affected students, teachers, and parents. Officials announced that education at the targeted school was suspended for the day following the shooting. The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) also stated that it is closely monitoring the aftermath of the incident.
Tensions Rise as Concerned Parents Gather
The sudden violence caused immediate panic among families in the area. Anxious parents rushed to the school premises upon hearing news of the shooting.
Footage from the scene captured police officers pushing back families and onlookers who gathered near the perimeter. According to reports from The Hindu and local accounts, confrontations and scuffles broke out between concerned parents trying to enter the building and law enforcement personnel who blocked access and worked to secure the area.
Broader Context of School Security in Turkiye
The shooting in Turgutlu follows a pair of deadly school attacks earlier in the year that shocked the nation. In April 2026, a former student opened fire at a high school in Sanliurfa province, wounding 16 people before killing himself. The following day, a 14-year-old student killed nine people—including students and teachers—and wounded 13 others in Kahramanmaras province before being killed by police.
Prior to those spring incidents, Turkiye had no recorded history of such school attacks. The earlier tragedies sparked widespread public outrage and led authorities to implement tighter gun controls and enhanced security measures for educational facilities ahead of the 2026–2027 academic year, including protocols coordinated between the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of National Education.
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