Eight dead in mass shooting in rural west Türkiye: officials

Eight people were killed and one seriously injured in armed attacks in three villages near the western Turkish city of Afyonkarahisar on Thursday, local officials reported. The Afyonkarahisar governor's office confirmed the tragic incident, which occurred in a rural area between Ankara and Izmir. Two women were found dead on a road in Yukaritandir village, despite receiving medical attention, while three others were discovered dead in Kiyir village and another three in Ayazini village, located an additional 30 minutes east.

A fifth victim was in critical condition at the hospital. Grainy CCTV footage captured a man in a black jacket, white trousers, and glasses holding a rifle near a faded red minivan, which was later found on the outskirts of Eskisehir. Police suspect the suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Authorities are investigating possible connections to a previous incident in Afyonkarahisar where a woman was shot and seriously injured by a gunman.