At least four people have been killed and nine others injured after a shooting at a high school in the Philippine city of Zamboanga, according to authorities. The incident took place early on Tuesday at Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s high school, shortly before classes were due to begin.
The dead include two students and two security personnel, adding to the shock surrounding an attack that occurred inside an educational institution as pupils and staff were preparing for the school day.
Local reports said the shooting happened only a short time before classes were scheduled to start. The timing meant that students and school employees were already arriving or preparing to begin their normal activities when the incident unfolded.
The Philippines’ National Bureau of Investigation said nine people were wounded in the attack. Authorities did not immediately release the identities of those injured, and further details about their conditions were not available at the time of the initial reports.
Police said the suspected attacker was a male fourth-year student at the school. According to information cited by local authorities, his father worked at the Zamboanga City customs office.
Investigators said the student allegedly entered the school campus carrying a pistol and a rifle. He is accused of subsequently opening fire inside a classroom without any apparent provocation. Authorities have yet to establish what prompted the alleged attack or whether the victims were specifically targeted.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khaimar Adan Olaso confirmed that the alleged attacker was a student at the private school, which is run by the Jesuit community. The school is part of a long-established educational institution in the city, making the incident particularly significant for the local community.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show students rushing out of the school building following the shooting. Gunshots could also be heard in some of the footage. The authorities have not, however, independently confirmed every detail contained in the videos.
Police and investigators remained at the school following the incident as they worked to establish the sequence of events. Investigators are examining how the suspect was able to enter the campus with firearms and what happened immediately before the shooting.
The motive remains unclear. Authorities are also looking into whether there were shortcomings in the school’s security arrangements that may have allowed weapons to be brought onto the premises.
The investigation is expected to focus on the source of the firearms, the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s access to the school, and any possible motive behind the attack. Officials have not yet announced a definitive explanation for why the shooting occurred.
The deaths of two students and two security personnel have left the school community facing the immediate consequences of the violence, while the nine injured people are receiving attention. Further information about the victims and the circumstances of the attack is expected as the investigation progresses.
