Second school shooting in Türkiye in two days leaves four dead and nation in shock

Türkiye is reeling after a second school shooting in as many days left four people dead, including three pupils and a teacher, in a rare outbreak of violence that has stunned communities nationwide.

The attack took place on Wednesday at a middle school in the south-eastern province of Kahramanmaraş. According to the local governor, Mükerrem Ünlüer, at least 20 others were wounded when an eighth-grade student opened fire on classmates and staff.

The young attacker is believed to have brought firearms belonging to his father to school, hiding them in a backpack before carrying out the assault. Officials said the student also died during the incident, though details surrounding the circumstances remain unclear.

Scenes outside the school reflected the shock and grief felt by families. Ambulances lined the streets while anxious parents gathered at the gates, waiting for news of their children.

For many, the sense of security typically associated with schools has been deeply shaken.

School shootings are extremely rare in Türkiye, making the back-to-back attacks all the more distressing. Just a day earlier, another shooting unfolded in the nearby province of Şanlıurfa, where a former student injured at least 16 people before taking his own life.

Authorities have moved quickly to respond. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek confirmed that an investigation into Wednesday’s attack is under way, with officials working to piece together how the weapons were obtained and what may have led to the violence.

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For residents in the affected regions, the incidents have left more than physical wounds. Teachers, pupils and parents alike are grappling with fear and unanswered questions.

“You send your child to school thinking they are safe,” one local parent told Turkish media. “Now we are not so sure.”

As the country mourns, attention is turning to school safety measures and mental health support for young people. The twin attacks have sparked a national conversation about prevention, responsibility and how such tragedies, so uncommon in Türkiye, could happen twice in just 48 hours.

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