New details have come to light that allegedly reveal the motives that led a 15-year-old student to shoot 11 pupils with a shotgun at a secondary school in Manisa, in western Turkey, after the attacker stated that he carried out the shooting because he was being bullied at school.
The investigation has brought to light new details about the suspect’s background and the events leading up to the armed attack. Nine people, including the alleged perpetrator, have been arrested so far as part of the investigation; among them are his father, his mother, his grandmother, his grandfather, several relatives and the owner of the hunting tackle shop that sold the ammunition to the minor.
The perpetrator had previously dropped out of school
It has been established that the minor had been studying in Year 9 at another school last year but did not complete the year, so he enrolled this year at the secondary school where the incident took place, although he did not attend classes regularly and only turned up on a few occasions.
The attacker’s – identified by the initials H.O. – initial statements, have also come to light. The young man stated that the previous day he had been assaulted following a dispute over a girl and, in his statement after being arrested, cited this incident as the motive behind the attack. Security cameras captured him arriving on foot at the scene with a shotgun in his hand and fleeing down the street afterwards after firing the shots.
He fired at the school from three different locations
According to the latest information published by the Turkish news agency Anatolia, the student used three cartridges during the attack and fired the shotgun at pupils at the school from positions approximately 80, 90 and 110 metres away.
The investigation has also established that, approximately one month before carrying out the shooting, he had practised shooting with his grandfather’s rifle. He subsequently obtained the ammunition from a hunting shop using 600 liras – around 11 euros – which his grandmother had given him.
Before the incident, the teenager reset his mobile phone. His electronic devices are currently undergoing technical analysis in an attempt to recover the deleted information. It has also been discovered that, before carrying out the attack, he told a relative of his plans, although the relative did not think he was being serious.
He had Nazi and extremist symbols in his bedroom
During the search of the apartment where he lived with his parents, police investigators found neo-Nazi symbols in the teenager’s bedroom, including a swastika, as well as notes relating to various political and ideological movements.
A notebook belonging to the young man was also found, containing texts that appeared to be a manifesto in which he set out his views on politics, the economy and social issues. The investigation is now seeking to determine whether the suspect was influenced by a process of individual radicalisation or whether he was in contact with various types of extremist groups.
Update on the injured students
Meanwhile, the Manisa Governor’s Office has reported in the last few hours that the health of the injured students – several of whom are still receiving treatment in hospital – is being closely monitored at all times.
“Six of our students who sustained minor injuries following the shooting at the secondary school and who are currently being treated at the Turgutlu State Hospital are due to be discharged today. The other three students, who are being treated at a hospital in the city of Manisa, are conscious and continue to receive treatment in the intensive care units,” the statement said.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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