Turkey school shooting leaves 11 wounded as suspect is arrested in Manisa

Yesterday 15:00

At least 11 people were wounded after gunfire broke out near a vocational and technical high school in Turgutlu, in Turkey’s western Manisa province, on Tuesday. Two of the injured were reported to be in serious condition, while security forces arrested the suspected shooter shortly after the incident.

The shooting occurred during the morning, as students were arriving at the school. Police and emergency medical teams were dispatched to the area, while authorities secured the surrounding streets and began investigating the circumstances of the attack.

The motive had not been established at the time of the initial reports. Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said two chief prosecutors had been assigned to investigate the incident, including allegations that bullying may have played a role.

Suspect detained as investigation begins

According to Turkish media reports cited by AP, the suspect was a student at the school and allegedly used a shotgun taken from his grandmother’s home. He reportedly fired near the school before attempting to escape on foot.

The suspect’s parents and grandfather were also taken into custody as part of the investigation, according to the Justice Ministry. Authorities have not established a definitive motive.

The incident triggered scenes of confusion around the school, with concerned parents gathering at the site while police restricted access to the building.

A new test for school security measures

The Manisa shooting comes only months after two other serious incidents involving schools in Turkey.

In April, a former student opened fire at a high school in southeastern Sanliurfa province, injuring 16 people before taking his own life. The following day, another shooting at a school in Kahramanmaras province killed students and a teacher and left 13 others wounded.

Those incidents prompted the Turkish government to strengthen security arrangements around educational institutions as the 2026-2027 school year began.

The latest attack has therefore raised fresh questions about how effectively those measures can protect students from violence occurring immediately outside school premises.

Authorities reinforce the security framework

Turkey introduced additional security measures for schools at the beginning of the new academic year, including a stronger police presence around educational facilities.

The government has also been examining the broader issue of access to firearms following the two April shootings. The Manisa incident is likely to add further attention to how weapons can reach students and how potential threats around schools can be detected before violence occurs.

For families and school communities, the immediate priority remains the condition of those injured and the clarification of what led to Tuesday’s shooting.

The investigation in Turgutlu is continuing, while authorities work to establish the exact sequence of events and determine whether any additional factors contributed to the attack.