Student dies, seven wounded in Istanbul middle school knife attack

A 15-year-old girl identified as F.M. entered Şeyh Şamil İmam Hatip Middle School in Başakşehir's Kayaşehir neighbourhood around 08:40 on 6 October wearing her high-school uniform and carrying a knife. She attacked eight female students aged 10 to 13 inside a classroom, wounding all of them.

Emergency crews rushed the victims to nearby hospitals. Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu said one girl was in critical condition and two others were seriously hurt. Hours later, Education Minister Yusuf Tekin announced that the critically wounded student had died despite medical efforts.

“She entered in her school uniform and stabbed the children indiscriminately.”

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül told reporters the attacker lived in the same neighbourhood and entered the building unchallenged in her uniform. He said she stabbed the children indiscriminately. Police detained F.M. and her mother; a judicial investigation has been opened.

The Education Ministry dispatched two inspectors to the school and suspended classes for two days. Governor Gül added that five of the wounded were expected to be discharged the same day, while one remained in surgery as of his briefing.