ISTANBUL — A 15-year-old student killed one pupil and wounded eight others in a stabbing attack at a secondary school in Istanbul's Başakşehir district on Tuesday morning, according to Turkish officials. The suspect, who attends a different school, was apprehended at the scene.
The attack unfolded at Şeyh Şamil Imam Hatip Secondary School around 8:35 a.m. local time (7:35 a.m. CEST), the district governor's office said. Education Minister Yusuf Tekin confirmed that the attacker had disguised herself in the uniform of the targeted school before entering the premises.
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu said eight students were injured, one critically and two in moderate-to-serious condition. "The treatment of our eight wounded ... is continuing in our hospitals, and we are closely monitoring their health status," he said. Later, Tekin confirmed that one of the injured students had died.
The suspect, identified as a 15-year-old 10th-grade student at another institution, was taken into custody. Classes at Şeyh Şamil Imam Hatip Secondary School have been suspended for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Media ban and context
Istanbul's 3rd Criminal Court of Peace imposed a broadcasting ban on coverage of the incident, with Turkey's media regulator RTÜK citing the need to protect the investigation and "ensure the arrest of suspects." The move restricts reporting by Turkish outlets, though international media continue to cover the story.
Imam hatip schools are state-funded religious secondary schools originally established to train imams and prayer leaders. Under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government, their enrollment has expanded significantly, and they now educate a substantial share of Turkey's secondary students.
The attack has shocked a country already grappling with concerns about school safety and youth violence. While such incidents are rare in Turkey, they echo a broader European debate about security in educational settings. In France, for instance, student protests over school funding and safety have intensified, with students staging nationwide demonstrations and clashes in cities like Marseille and Lille. The Istanbul stabbing adds a tragic dimension to these discussions, though the motives remain unclear.
Authorities have not yet released details about the suspect's background or possible motives. The investigation is ongoing, and the broadcast ban suggests officials are concerned about the spread of unverified information.
As the wounded students receive hospital care, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities in school environments across Europe. While the immediate focus is on the victims and their families, the attack also raises questions about mental health support and security protocols in educational institutions—a concern that resonates from Istanbul to Paris.
