ANKARA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called for tighter security at schools nationwide after a rare, deadly shooting last week.
"The issue of school security is at the top of our priorities. There will be no compromise whatsoever on this matter," Erdogan said after a weekly Cabinet meeting in Ankara.
He said the issue should be addressed not only from a security standpoint but also through developmental psychology, social policy, family roles and education.
Erdogan ordered closer coordination between schools and law enforcement, along with stronger cyber patrols and expanded capacity for cyber units. He said authorities would use artificial intelligence to increase their "visible and invisible presence" online.
He also stressed the role of families, calling them a person's first school where education and socialization begin.
Erdogan called for expanding psychosocial support for students and strengthening early-warning systems. He said authorities would enhance guidance mechanisms to identify risks early and intervene effectively.
The measures follow a shooting Wednesday in Türkiye's southern Kahramanmaras province, where a 14-year-old armed with five guns opened fire at a middle school, killing nine people and wounding 13. The attack, the second such incident in two days, shocked a country where school shootings are rare.
Authorities have since tightened security at schools across all 81 provinces. Under Interior Ministry directives, each school must strengthen internal and external security.
At least two police officers have been assigned to school entrances, and security teams have increased patrols around campuses, including identity checks and background screenings of suspicious individuals. ■
