An alarm was raised this morning in Siverek, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, when a 19-year-old man stormed a vocational high school and opened fire indiscriminately, injuring 16 people and ending his own life during the police operation.

The incident took place in the early morning hours at Ahmet Koyuntsu Vocational and Technical High School, located on Rustu Kuchukomer Street in Siverek, Sunliurfa. According to authorities, the assailant, identified as 19-year-old Omer Ket, entered the school complex armed with a shotgun and began firing indiscriminately, causing panic among students and teachers.

Watch the moment the 19-year-old entered the school and began shooting indiscriminately, wounding at least one person

Following calls from citizens to the authorities, heavy police forces, ambulances and special operations units were rushed to the scene. During the operation, the assailant remained inside the school, and according to initial reports there were panic scenes between students and staff.

Sanliurfa Governor Hassan Sildak said a total of 16 people were injured, including four teachers, ten students, a police officer and a worker at the school’s canteen. He said there were no fatalities from the attack.

“Of the 16 injured, four – two teachers and two students – were deemed to be in moderate condition and were taken to hospitals in the centre of the province. The remaining 12 wounded are continuing their treatment at Siberek State Hospital,” Hassan Sildak said.

According to him, the gunman was a former student of the school, had attended up to ninth grade and then enrolled in a distance learning high school. The 19-year-old, born in 2007, allegedly shot himself when police forces attempted to subdue him, resulting in him being found dead inside the school.

Authorities evacuated the school complex, while the prosecutor’s office began a judicial investigation into the case and an administrative review into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing.

“We extend our condolences to all the residents of Siberek, Sanliurfa and the entire educational community. Despite the security measures being taken, isolated incidents may occur. We are closely monitoring the condition of the injured and wish them a speedy recovery,” said the governor of Sanliurfa.

An eyewitness described moments of intense fear, citing panic when the gunshots were heard outside the school, with students and teachers trying to flee the area.

Investigations by authorities are continuing to establish the motives of the attacker and the circumstances that led to the attack.