ISTANBUL: Authorities in Turkey launched a sweeping crackdown on social media on Thursday following two consecutive school shootings that shocked the nation and left multiple casualties, most of them children.
According to officials, at least 83 individuals have been detained for allegedly posting content that praised the attacks, while hundreds of social media accounts have been blocked and dozens of online groups shut down. The measures come ahead of funeral ceremonies for the victims in the southern city of Kahramanmaras.
The violence unfolded over two days. The first attack occurred in Sanliurfa, where a former student opened fire at his old high school, injuring 16 people before taking his own life. The second, more deadly incident took place a day later in Kahramanmaras, where a 14-year-old student reportedly brought multiple firearms to school, killing nine people — including eight children aged 10 and 11 — and wounding 13 others.
Investigators said the teenage suspect had carefully planned the attack, with documents on his computer indicating intentions to carry out a “major operation.” He was killed at the scene, though authorities have not clarified the circumstances of his death. His father, a former police officer, has been detained, and reports suggest his mother, a teacher, is also in custody.
Police revealed that the attacker had referenced Elliot Rodger — responsible for a mass shooting in the United States in 2014 — in his WhatsApp profile. Despite this, officials have stated there is no evidence linking the incident to terrorism, describing it as an “isolated act.”
In response to the tragedy, schools in Kahramanmaras have been closed for two days. The attacks have also sparked public outrage, with teachers’ unions staging protests in Ankara and calling for a nationwide strike.
Demonstrators carried banners declaring their refusal to allow schools to become spaces of violence. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed deep sorrow over what he described as a “tragic attack,” pledging a thorough investigation to uncover all aspects of the incident.
The government’s swift action against online content reflects growing concerns over the role of digital platforms in amplifying or glorifying violence, particularly in the wake of such rare but devastating events in the country.
