Istanbul, Turkey — A shocking incident unfolded on a Tuesday morning in Istanbul’s Başakşehir district when a 15-year-old girl, wearing a uniform from another school, entered the grounds of a middle school and indiscriminately stabbed eight young girls. Tragically, one of the victims has recently died, as confirmed by Turkish Education Minister Yusuf Tekin.
The attack occurred just after 8:40 a.m. local time at Kayaşehir Sheikh Shamil Imam Hatip Middle School, located in the Kayabaşı neighborhood. The victims, all girls aged between 10 and 13, were randomly targeted in what authorities described as a brutal and unprovoked assault.
Officials identified the assailant as a 15-year-old female 10th grader from a different school. Istanbul Governor Davut Gül addressed the media, revealing that she had gained access to the school while dressed in a student uniform. “She entered the premises and stabbed the children indiscriminately,” Gül said, further explaining that the suspect was a high school student from the nearby Küçükçekmece district.
Security personnel quickly intervened and apprehended the attacker, who was then turned over to police. Identified as F.M., the girl is said to have lived in the same area as the middle school but attended a different institution. Cemil Özgür Önegi, the district governor of Başakşehir, confirmed details surrounding the assailant’s background.
As emergency responders arrived, medical teams worked swiftly to transport the wounded girls to surrounding hospitals. The Interior Ministry later issued a statement confirming that one victim succumbed to her injuries despite efforts to save her. Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu indicated that among the survivors, one was in critical condition while two others sustained moderate to serious injuries.
After visiting the injured at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, Gül reported that five of the victims had sustained minor injuries and were expected to be released soon, while the conditions of the remaining two were improving. However, one girl underwent surgery to address her injuries.
In light of the tragedy, Kayaşehir Sheikh Shamil Imam Hatip Middle School suspended classes for both Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, an Istanbul court has ordered a ban on the dissemination of information regarding the attack, raising concerns within a community already sensitive to incidents of school violence.
This event follows several recent school-related attacks across Turkey, which have heightened public anxiety regarding student safety. In September, a teenager injured 11 students in a Western Turkey school shooting, and two separate shooting incidents involving adolescents occurred shortly afterward in the south.
As authorities continue their investigation, the focus now shifts to the legal proceedings surrounding the attacker, who remains in custody. Both local and national leaders are urging for a thorough examination of the factors contributing to this alarming incident, as the nation grapples with the implications of violence in educational settings.