CHP sends delegation to Kahramanmaraş: Özgür Özel calls on the government following school attacks

An armed attack occurred at a middle school in Kahramanmaraş. The incident took place around 13:30 at Ayser Çalık Middle School in the Onikişubat district.

Kahramanmaraş Governor Mükerrem Ünlüer announced that 4 people lost their lives and 20 people were injured in the attack. It was reported that 4 of the injured are in critical condition.

The perpetrator of the attack was identified as İsa Aras Mersinli, an 8th-grade student at the school. Governor Ünlüer stated that the student entered two separate classrooms and opened fire.

ATTACKER'S FATHER IN CUSTODY

While the investigation into the incident, for which a publication ban has been issued, continues, it was reported that the attacker's father, Uğur Mersinli, a former police officer, has been taken into custody.

STATEMENT FROM ÖZGÜR ÖZEL

In his statement regarding the attack in Kahramanmaraş, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel recalled the teacher Fatma, who was killed by her student in Istanbul, and the school attack in Şanlıurfa, stating that the increasing violence in educational institutions can no longer be considered as isolated incidents.

"WE HAVE ASSIGNED A 4-PERSON DELEGATION"

Stating that a 4-person delegation from the CHP has been sent to Kahramanmaraş following the incident, Özel expressed that they will both provide solidarity with the families and examine the incident on-site. Emphasizing that ensuring security in schools is the fundamental responsibility of the state, Özel stated that entry-exit controls should be increased, the number of security personnel should be raised, camera systems should be strengthened, and security measures around schools should be tightened.

Furthermore, Özel reiterated that, as they had previously proposed, unassigned specialist sergeants should be utilized as security guards in schools, noting that the current negligence is unacceptable.

Özel's statement is as follows:

"First, in Istanbul, we lost our teacher Fatma to an attack by her student.

Yesterday, 16 of our lives were injured in an armed attack at a school in Şanlıurfa.

Today, another fire has fallen into our hearts with the news from Kahramanmaraş.

We wish God's mercy upon our citizens who lost their lives, and we extend our condolences to their families, loved ones, and our nation. We wish a speedy recovery to our injured.

As soon as we heard about the incident, we assigned a 4-person delegation from our party to Kahramanmaraş. Our colleagues will both share the pain, attend to the needs of the families, and examine all aspects of the incident on-site.

When teacher Fatma was alive, she had cried out, 'We do not have safety of life in schools.'

Unfortunately, that cry was not heard.

Neither an effective measure was taken nor a deterrent precaution was developed.

At the point we have reached today, it is clearly evident that violence in schools can no longer be explained by isolated incidents. This issue has turned into a growing and deepening security vulnerability.

Ensuring the safety of our children, our teachers, and our education workers is the most fundamental duty of the state.

One of Turkey's most urgent agendas must now be school safety.

Ensuring complete control of school entries and exits, increasing the number of security personnel, strengthening camera systems, intensifying law enforcement patrols around schools, and keeping emergency crisis plans ready are now a necessity.

Along with other measures, as we have previously proposed, 65 thousand security guards from among our unassigned specialist sergeants must be immediately appointed to our schools.

The safety of schools is entrusted to our state.

No negligence or deficiency in this matter can be excused anymore."