Kahramanmaraş school shooting kills nine, suspect also dead

A deadly shooting at a middle school in Türkiye’s Kahramanmaraş province on Wednesday left nine people dead and 13 others injured, six of them critically, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi said. Governor Mükerrem Ünlüer said the attack was carried out by an eighth‑grade student at Ayser Çalık Secondary School for reasons not yet known. The student brought firearms in a backpack and opened fire indiscriminately after entering two classrooms. Four of the injured are undergoing surgery and are in critical condition.

Investigation and Suspect

The suspected attacker also died; it remains unclear whether he shot himself intentionally or was killed during the chaos. The weapons may have belonged to the suspect’s father, a former police officer. The student reportedly arrived with five firearms and seven magazines. Chief Public Prosecutor Ramazan Murat Tiryaki said an investigation has been launched. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said three deputy chief public prosecutors and four public prosecutors have been assigned to the investigation.

Official Response

Education Minister Yusuf Tekin travelled to the region, and four chief inspectors have been dispatched to Kahramanmaraş. Communications Director Burhanettin Duran called for care in media reporting due to the involvement of minors. Media coverage restrictions have been imposed to ensure the integrity of the investigation. Education in Kahramanmaraş has been suspended for two days. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed deep sorrow, saying the attack “has deeply saddened Türkiye, especially our beloved children.”