A gunman killed eight people in shootings across three villages in western Turkey on Thursday before police arrested him in a neighboring province.

The attacks took place in Afyonkarahisar province. Gendarmerie units were dispatched Thursday evening after reports of gunshot wounds. Three victims were found near Ayazini village and three near Kiyir village. Two women wounded in Yukaritandir later died in hospital. One person remains seriously injured.

The victims were found in three separate vehicles. Roads leading to the affected villages were closed by police. Officers launched a large-scale operation to find the suspect. Investigations were initiated under the coordination of the Afyonkarahisar prosecutor's office. Services received the first reports of victims at 15:10 local time.

The suspect fled in a vehicle that was later found stuck in mud. A shepherd noticed the abandoned car and reported it to the services. He continued on foot. Police surrounded him in the Seyitgazi district of Eskişehir province. Special forces were awaited to conduct the operation. Two officers sustained minor injuries when the suspect opened fire during the arrest attempt.

The attacker was armed with a shotgun. The abandoned vehicle contained a shotgun and numerous cartridges. CCTV footage showed a man in a black jacket, white trousers and glasses clutching a long weapon beside a red minivan.

Turkish media reported that the gunman stopped random vehicles and shot at their occupants. Investigators said the victims had no connection to one another. The suspect's identity was quickly established after his image was captured on nearby cameras. The vehicles were removed from the attack sites by cranes after forensic teams collected evidence.

Two of the victims were female teachers at a middle school, according to the provincial education administration. The Afyonkarahisar Governorate said "all relevant institutions of our state have been working in coordination since the very first moment and are meticulously carrying out the necessary work." Officials said the motive for the attack was not immediately known.