At least six people have been killed and eight others injured in a shooting at a restaurant in the Tarsus district of Mersin province, southern Turkey. The incident occurred on Monday, May 18, when a suspected gunman opened fire inside the establishment before fleeing the scene in a car.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed the death toll in a broadcast statement, offering condolences. According to local reports from CNN Türk, the suspect allegedly killed his ex-wife before attacking the restaurant. The owner and an employee of the restaurant, as well as a shepherd and a lorry driver, are among the deceased.
Emergency services responded to the scene, and a cordon was established around multiple crime sites. Police have launched a large-scale manhunt involving helicopters and drones, while monitoring highways to track the suspect. The motive and identity of the gunman remain unclear.
The shooting took place in the Kadelli neighbourhood of Tarsus, a city about 12 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. This incident follows a series of shootings in Turkey, including a school shooting that left nine dead a month prior.
