Panic and chaos gripped a high school in southeastern Turkey when a former student opened fire on the campus, wounding 16 people before turning the gun on himself, authorities said.

The attack took place in the Siverek district of Sanliurfa province, a largely conservative region near Turkey’s border with Syria. School shootings are extremely rare in the country, intensifying the shock and fear that swept through the community as details emerged.

Sanliurfa Governor Hasan Sildak told reporters that special security forces were rushed to the scene as the incident unfolded. Students and staff were evacuated under armed guard while police teams moved through the building to locate the attacker and secure classrooms.

Television footage from outside the school showed ambulances lined up at the entrance and students running from the building, some in tears, others clutching their phones as they tried to reach family members. Parents gathered behind police cordons, waiting anxiously for news.

Sildak identified the gunman as a former student of the school, born in 2007, making him a teenager. He did not immediately provide a motive for the attack, saying investigators were working to piece together the events leading up to the shooting and to examine the suspect’s background, social circle, and possible grievances.

“He took his own life when cornered by police,” the governor said, adding that officers had moved in after locating the suspect inside the school. “We have evacuated the school and will carry out a thorough investigation into this tragic incident.”

Local media reported that most of the wounded were students, with some in serious condition. They were transported to nearby hospitals in Sanliurfa, where medical teams were placed on emergency footing. Authorities said psychological support would be offered to survivors, staff, and families.

The attack has raised urgent questions about school security and access to firearms in Turkey, where strict gun laws exist but illegal weapons remain a concern in some regions. Education officials and local leaders have pledged to review security protocols at schools across the province.

As investigators continue their work, the community of Siverek is left to confront the trauma of a rare but devastating act of violence in a place meant to be safe for children.