Eight female students were stabbed "at random" at a middle school in Istanbul on Tuesday, with one of them fighting for her life. A female student from another school has been taken into police custody.
The attack took place at the Sheikh Shamil Imam Hatip Middle School in the Başakşehir district of Istanbul at around 8.40am local time (6.40am BST). According to local reports, the injured students are aged between 10 and 13.
Suspect in custody
The suspect, a female student from Fahreddin Kerim Gokay Anatolian High School, entered the school wearing her school uniform and stabbed the children indiscriminately, according to Istanbul Governor Davut Gül. The high school is located at the other end of Istanbul from the scene of the attack.
Governor Gül said: "We all wish them a speedy recovery. We pray to God for the healing of our children who are undergoing treatment. A total of eight students were injured. Five of them have minor injuries. We expect their treatment to be completed within the day."
Hospital treatment ongoing
"The treatment of two of our students is ongoing. There is a positive improvement in their condition. One child is undergoing surgery. The person who committed the stabbing is a female student living in the same neighbourhood, very close to the school," he added.
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu confirmed the number of victims to be eight, adding that one of them is in critical condition. He said: "I extend my best wishes to the students and their families who were injured in the fight that took place at a middle school in Başakşehir. Eight of our injured citizens, one of whom is in critical condition and two in moderate to severe condition, are currently receiving treatment in our hospitals, and we are closely monitoring their health. I wish them a speedy recovery."
