15-year-old opens fire near school in Türkiye, injuring 11 students as authorities investigate gun access
At least 11 students were injured after a 15-year-old pupil allegedly opened fire near a vocational high school in Manisa province, with two victims reported to be in critical condition.
- A 15-year-old pupil was detained after a shooting near a school in Turgutlu, Manisa.
- Eleven students were injured, including two who were seriously hurt.
- Authorities are investigating firearm access, family supervision and possible peer bullying.
At least 11 students were injured when a 15-year-old pupil opened fire near a high school in western Türkiye on Tuesday morning, with two of the victims reported to be in critical condition.
The shooting took place near İnci Üzmez Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Turgutlu district, Manisa province, at about 8am local time on 22 September, according to Turkish authorities.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said the suspect was quickly apprehended after the shooting and that a comprehensive judicial investigation had been launched. Two public prosecutors were assigned to the case.
The suspect's parents and grandfather were also detained as investigators examine how the firearm came into the teenager's possession and whether there were failures in supervision.
What happened near the school
The shooting occurred outside the school, on a street used by pupils travelling to the school, rather than inside the school building, Gürlek said.
Initial reports said the suspect fired a shotgun in the vicinity of the school before fleeing on foot. Security-camera footage circulated by Turkish media showed a person carrying a firearm in a street near the school.
Gürlek said 11 students had been injured, two of them seriously. The students were taken to nearby health facilities for treatment.
The Ministry of National Education said the incident prompted a comprehensive investigation and that three ministry inspectors had been sent to Manisa in addition to inspectors from the provincial education authorities.
The ministry also deployed psychosocial support teams for affected pupils, teachers and parents. Classes at the school were suspended for 22 September.
The ministry said the investigation would be conducted in coordination with the relevant authorities.
Police detained suspect and three family members
Gürlek said the suspect was a child involved in the judicial process and had been detained shortly after the attack.
His mother, father and grandfather were also detained in connection with the investigation. Authorities are examining the circumstances in which the firearm reached the teenager, how it was stored, and the parents' responsibilities for the care and supervision of their child.
The minister also said investigators were examining allegations that the teenager had experienced peer bullying before the shooting.
He said the circumstances surrounding the weapon, its storage, the family's supervision responsibilities and the bullying allegations were being investigated from multiple angles. The authorities have not announced a confirmed motive.
The exact ownership and licensing circumstances of the firearm have also become part of the investigation.
Shooting comes a day after new school security measures
The incident occurred one day after Türkiye's Interior and Education ministries announced a new school-safety cooperation protocol involving seven ministries.
The protocol was signed on 21 September by Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi and Education Minister Yusuf Tekin. The agreement involves the ministries of Interior, Education, Justice, Family and Social Services, Labour and Social Security, Youth and Sports, and Health.
Turkish authorities had introduced additional school-security measures following two shootings at schools earlier in 2026.
According to Turkish media reports, the new measures include increased police presence at schools, arrangements requiring parents to enter school grounds by appointment, and additional preventive measures intended to improve security around educational institutions.
The Interior Ministry said the government had reviewed school-security arrangements ahead of the new academic year.
The latest shooting has therefore prompted authorities to investigate not only the attack itself but also the circumstances surrounding the teenager's access to the firearm.
The Turkish Education Ministry said its inspectors would examine the incident in detail while psychosocial support was being provided to those affected.
The judicial investigation remains ongoing.
