Turkish teen shooter injures 11 students outside Manisa high school

The shooting at Inci Uzmez Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Manisa, Turkey, left at least 11 students injured on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, with conflicting casualty reports and ongoing investigations into the motive and weapon’s origin.

Timeline of the Incident

The attack occurred around 8:00 a.m. local time near the Turgutlu district school, according to multiple outlets. CCTV footage showed the suspect, a 15-year-old male, walking through empty streets with a shotgun before opening fire on students. Later footage captured him fleeing the scene with the weapon still in hand. Police apprehended him shortly after, though the exact time of arrest remains unspecified.

Conflicting reports emerged about the number of injured. While sources like myjoyonline.com and presstv.co.uk cited 11 injured, mezha.net reported eight, with two 16-year-olds in critical condition. A later statement from the Manisa Governor’s Office noted that 10 students may have been wounded, though the discrepancy remains unresolved. All injured were reportedly students, and classes were suspended for the day.

Family Detentions and Legal Context

The suspect’s mother, father, and grandfather were detained by authorities, according to Turkey’s justice minister Akın Gürlek. The grandfather reportedly owned the shotgun used in the attack. Gürlek emphasized that the family’s role in the weapon’s storage and the suspect’s access would be investigated, citing recent legal amendments clarifying parental supervision duties.

The suspect, a ninth-grade student at the school, is required to appear before a court before being officially arrested under Turkish law. The Ministry of Education confirmed that three national investigators were sent to Manisa to assess the incident’s impact on the school community.

Government Response and Historical Context

This marks the third school shooting in Turkey this year, following two deadly attacks in April. In one, a 14-year-old killed nine students and a teacher in Kahramanmaras before dying by suicide. Another incident in Sanliurfa saw a former student wound 16 people before taking his own life. These events prompted the government to implement stricter gun controls and deploy school supervisors for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The Education Ministry described the Manisa incident as a “deep blow” to the nation, while the Justice Ministry launched a judicial investigation. The Manisa Governor’s Office also initiated an administrative probe to clarify the casualty count and circumstances of the attack.

Public and Parental Reactions

Parents gathered outside the school after the shooting, with reports of a scuffle between families and police attempting to restrict access to the campus. Local media highlighted tensions as authorities worked to secure the area and manage conflicting casualty reports.

The attack has reignited debates over youth violence and school safety, particularly in a country with no prior history of school shootings. Gürlek’s statement on social media underscored the government’s stance: “When it comes to the safety of our children, it is impossible to overlook any negligence or irresponsibility.”

The investigation into the weapon’s origin and the suspect’s motivations continues, with authorities expected to release further details in the coming days. The incident underscores ongoing challenges in addressing youth violence and gun control in Turkey, as the nation grapples with the implications of its first major school shooting crisis.