Yusuf Tekin's statement on the school attack in Şanlıurfa: We are taking all necessary measures

Speaking to journalists before the AKP Group Meeting, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin responded to questions regarding the incident in Siverek, where a former student entered an educational institution and opened fire. Tekin stated that the highest-level ministry representatives in the region were assigned immediately after the incident and that they are acting in conjunction with all relevant institutions, primarily the Ministries of Interior and Justice.

Minister Tekin said, "First of all, let me say this: We are truly saddened by the incident. We are managing the process together with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Family and Social Services. As soon as we were informed of the incident yesterday around noon, our highest-level colleague in the closest location to the region, our Chairman of the Board of Education, cut his program short and went directly there. He was there all day, and we were in constant communication. Our Chairman of the Board of Education is one of our closest colleagues within the Ministry. As of this morning, two of our relevant general directors are there, our General Director of Vocational and Technical Education and our General Director of Special Education and Guidance Services... Two colleagues who need to receive information on this matter are there. We are in contact with the Governor's Office. We are taking all necessary measures."

JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING

Emphasizing that judicial and administrative investigations have been launched following the incident, Tekin underlined that it would not be appropriate to make necessary statements before the investigations are concluded. Tekin stated, "We already launch an investigation immediately after all such incidents. What we call an investigation means that everyone with authority on the subject is involved in the investigation. However, we must all avoid things that would cast suspicion on individuals in any way before the investigation is finished. I have never made a statement regarding an investigation process without definitive conclusions emerging, and I will not do so now regarding this matter either. Some people in newspapers are making comments, they are talking. All of these are things that will be evaluated by our inspectors, by us, by our Ministry of Interior, and during the judicial process. In order not to mislead anyone, I will only say this: We are continuing and following the judicial and administrative investigation processes regarding this matter in a way that protects everyone's rights."

Providing information on the health status of the injured, Minister Tekin said, "We are following them all. The Governor's Office is constantly making statements and providing information. We also spoke before coming here. Regarding our injured, except for one of our teachers, we are concerned that there may be permanent damage that would prevent them from continuing their normal life processes, although there is no life-threatening danger. Therefore, we are also following this process."

Regarding a question about school security, Tekin noted that risk analyses are conducted periodically and that security measures are maintained in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior. He stated that there are police officers in some schools and that certain schools are monitored in a controlled manner by plainclothes police, adding that they always keep the issue of security on the agenda.