18.10.2026 11:10
In Turkey, 10 students and 2 teachers lost their lives in 8 attacks that occurred in schools over the past 7 months. It has emerged that the 14-year-old girl who opened fire with a pump-action shotgun at the school she graduated from in Bitlis had been threatening an attack for a year. It was learned that the child played violent games with her older sister, and that her older sister messaged with a person reported to be a member of a new-generation criminal organization.
In the last 7 months in Turkey, 8 attacks on schools occurred, and 10 students and 2 teachers lost their lives in the incidents. The latest attack took place in the Hizan district of Bitlis. It emerged that the 14-year-old girl who opened fire with a shotgun at the school she graduated from had said for a year that she would carry out an attack. It was learned that the child played violent-content games online with her older sister, and that the older sister messaged a person stated to be a member of a new-generation criminal organization. Journalist İsmail Saymaz conveyed striking details about the attack in his column.
8 ATTACKS ON SCHOOLS IN 7 MONTHS
School attacks occurring one after another in Turkey in recent months have increased concerns. In 8 separate incidents that occurred between April and October, 10 students and 2 teachers lost their lives.
On April 14, in the Siverek district of Şanlıurfa, 19-year-old Ömer Ket attacked the high school he graduated from with a shotgun. While 16 people were injured in the incident, the attacker took his own life.
On April 15, in an armed attack at Ayser Çalık Middle School in the Onikişubat district of Kahramanmaraş, 9 students and one teacher lost their lives.
In September, attacks on schools occurred in Manisa and Osmaniye, and in October in Istanbul. The address of the latest incident was the Hizan district of Bitlis.
14-YEAR-OLD GIRL OPENED FIRE ON SCHOOL WITH A RIFLE
On October 14, in Kalkanlı village of the Hizan district of Bitlis, 14-year-old B.T. attacked the Kalkanlı Village Primary and Middle School, from which she had graduated, with a pump-action hunting rifle.
The child took the unlicensed rifle belonging to her older brother and began firing while walking toward the school.
The school principal, hearing the gunshots, quickly brought the students in the yard into the building and closed the doors. He then took shelter behind a wall.
B.T. fired approximately 15-20 shots at the school's windows, walls, and the principal's parked vehicle. After the cartridges in the rifle ran out, the child was caught and taken into custody.
SHE HAD BEEN SAYING "I WILL ATTACK THE SCHOOL" FOR A YEAR
According to information that emerged during the investigation, B.T. had been telling those close to her for about a year that she would attack her school and that she wanted to kill her father.
It was learned that B.T., a member of a family with eight children, graduated from the same school last year.
Her 16-year-old older sister, H., stated in her testimony that her younger sister had long been expressing the idea of an attack.
H. explained that her younger sister had argued with teachers because she was prevented from smoking at school and had also experienced problems with her family.
According to her older sister's testimony, B.T. had also written in her notes that she wanted to kill her father.
HER OLDER SISTER'S TESTIMONY DREW ATTENTION
H., whose testimony was taken as part of the investigation, explained that her younger sister sent her messages during the attack.
When asked why she sent messages to her younger sister, H. replied, "I sent them to make her angry. Because I don't want to live; I did it so that she would kill me too."
H., arguing that her younger sister carried out the attack on her own decision, said that they did not plan it together and did not receive instructions from anyone.
H. also stated that she had considered notifying the authorities that her older brother had weapons but did not file a complaint.
THEY WERE PLAYING VIOLENT-CONTENT GAMES ON THE INTERNET
Another detail that drew attention in the older sister's testimony was the game the two siblings played online.
H. stated that she and her younger sister played a game they called "Fire Fire Max," saying, "We were killing people in this game."
It has not yet been determined whether the game the two siblings played has any connection to the attack.
ALLEGATION OF A LINK TO A NEW-GENERATION CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION
It also drew attention that H. said in her testimony that she messaged a person stated to be a member of a new-generation criminal organization and followed this person on social media.
It has not yet become clear whether the person in question is really a member of a criminal organization and whether they have any connection to the attack.
Whether the two siblings were directed by anyone online is also among the issues that need to be investigated.
SHE HAD GONE FOR A PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATION BEFORE THE ATTACK
In the examination conducted after the incident, it emerged that the gendarmerie applied to the Hizan Civil Court of First Instance on June 2 under the Child Protection Law and ensured that counseling and a health measure were applied to B.T.
It was stated that B.T. went for a psychiatric examination two days before the attack, on October 12, but did not take the medications she was supposed to use.
B.T., who was taken into custody after the attack, and her older brother A., the owner of the rifle, were arrested and sent to prison.
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL PREVENTED A POSSIBLE DISASTER
The intervention of the school principal, who quickly brought the students inside and closed the doors when B.T. approached the school with a weapon, prevented possible loss of life.
While no student being injured in the incident prevented a major disaster, the question came to the agenda of why the threats made before the attack and the protective measures taken were not sufficient.