Istanbul, April 16: Turkey took decisive action on Thursday against social media posts praising two recent school shootings that have caused national upheaval. Authorities ordered the arrest of several individuals, many of whom are minors, ahead of the victims’ funerals.
Officials reported that 95 people were detained following the glorification of the attacks, with hundreds of accounts blocked and groups shut down. The two incidents over the past two days have shocked the world. Within just 24 hours, two teenagers opened fire in separate attacks. The first shooting on Tuesday injured 16 people, while the second on Wednesday resulted in nine fatalities and 13 injuries.
According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, Justice Minister Gurel stated, “Ninety-five people have been detained for spreading content that instills fear, anxiety, and terror among the public, and access to 1,104 social media accounts has been blocked.”
Among the deceased were eight children aged 10 to 11, along with a 55-year-old teacher. Authorities confirmed that both suspects in the attacks were also killed.
The first attack occurred in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, where a former student opened fire at a high school. When police demanded he surrender, he shot himself.
The second shooting was allegedly carried out by a 14-year-old student who arrived at a school in the southern province of Kahramanmaras armed with five guns. Officials indicated that the teenager was the son of a former police officer. Documents found on his computer dated April 11 suggested he was “about to commit a major incident.”
Local police reported that the suspect died at the scene, although the exact circumstances remain unclear. His father has been detained, and local media reported that his mother, a teacher, has also been taken into custody.
The police noted that the 14-year-old suspect referenced a mass shooter in the United States on his WhatsApp profile.
In a statement, police revealed, “Initial findings from the investigation indicate that the perpetrator used an image referencing Elliot Rodger, who carried out an attack in the United States in 2014.” Rodger, a 22-year-old American, killed six people at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before taking his own life.
Preliminary investigations have found no links to terrorism in Wednesday’s shooting, according to both police and prosecutors. They stated, “This appears to be an isolated incident.”
Meanwhile, schools in Kahramanmaras will remain closed on Thursday and Friday.
Authorities also confirmed that several individuals who posted praise for the shootings have been detained.
In a statement, police announced, “Orders have been issued for the detention of 95 individuals involved in posts and activities that glorify crime and criminals, adversely affecting public order, and legal action has been initiated against them.”
Additionally, access to 1,104 social media accounts has been blocked, and 93 Telegram groups have been shut down.
On Wednesday, dozens of members of the main teachers’ union gathered outside the Ministry of Education in Ankara, calling for a two-day strike across the country. They held a banner reading, “We will not surrender our schools to violence.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed sorrow over the “tragic attacks” on Wednesday but promised that every aspect of the incident would be thoroughly examined with complete transparency.
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