16.04.2026 17:46
Uğur Mersinli, the police inspector father of İsa Aras Mersinli, who carried out an armed attack at a school in Kahramanmaraş, stated in his testimony in court, "My son used to play interactive games, and when I entered his room, he would close everything. About 1 month ago, he asked me when I would let him shoot since his friends were shooting with guns. On Monday, I went to the police shooting range and shot with my own gun, and I also let my son fire a few shots."
Before recovering from the shock of the armed attack at a high school in Siverek district of Şanlıurfa, Turkey, we were shaken yesterday by a massacre at a middle school in Kahramanmaraş. Eighth-grade student İsa Aras Mersinli entered two classrooms at the school he arrived at with five guns and seven magazines, opening fire randomly. In the attack, nine people were killed and 20 were injured.
FATHER'S STATEMENT REVEALED
As the echoes of the incident continue, the attacker's father, police inspector Uğur Mersinli, was detained and then arrested. In his statement at the court, the father, who stated that he had his son shoot at the shooting range on Monday, included these words: "The guns and bullets that my son İsa Aras used in the incident belong to me. I have 7 licensed firearms for personal carry. I also have two hunting rifles, which are rifles owned in my name within the scope of the legislation. My son İsa Aras took 5 of my guns and went to the scene.
HOW DID HE GET THE GUNS?
My guns are kept in the bedroom; all the guns and bullets are inside a locked Maraş safe. The magazines are not kept attached to the guns. When I take the guns on me, I take the guns and magazines from different safes and go out. The mentioned Maraş safes are self-locking safes; İsa Aras learned how to open the safes, but I do not remember opening my safes in his presence.
"HE IS A VERY INTELLIGENT CHILD"
My son İsa Aras was a very good internet user. He even had his own VPN. He speaks English like his native language; he is a very intelligent child. My son had typical adolescent and exam problems, stresses. My son used to play interactive games; when I entered his room, he would close everything.
"HE HAD BEEN GOING TO A PSYCHOLOGIST FOR TWO MONTHS"
For about 2 months, I had been taking İsa Aras to a private specialist psychologist near our house. The psychologist said that my son might have problems adapting to society, that he needed to be monitored a bit, and that psychiatric treatment might be necessary in the future. He last went to the psychologist 3 weeks ago, but recently he avoided going to the psychologist.
"HE CONSTANTLY PLAYED WAR GAMES"
Because my son used his computer and mobile phone in English mode and because I do not know English, I could not monitor what my son was busy with on his mobile phone and computer. Although I don't know the name, I often saw that my son played war games. When I asked him what he was doing, he would evade by giving me an answer like 'oh, come on,' and I wouldn't get a healthy answer.
"I HAD HIM SHOOT WITH A GUN"
About a month ago, he asked me when I would let him shoot with a gun, saying his friends were shooting. On Monday, I went to the police shooting range and shot with my own gun, and I also had my son shoot a few rounds."