Turkey detains 162 for social media posts on school shooting

Turkey has detained 162 people nationwide over online activity linked to two deadly school shootings this week, according to authorities. The detentions were announced on Thursday, May 2, 2024, after police investigations into social media posts that officials said praised crime or criminals, spread misinformation, created fear, or were assessed as harming public order.

The actions followed two separate incidents at schools in different parts of the country. On Tuesday, 16 people were injured at a high school in the Siverek district. On the following day, a shooting at Ayser Calik Secondary School in Kahramanmaras left nine people dead, including eight students and one teacher, and wounded 13 others.

Authorities said the Kahramanmaras attack involved a 14-year-old assailant who was also killed. Officials stated the incident was pre-planned, and said a document indicating intentions for future attacks was found on the suspect’s computer.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said 95 individuals were arrested for sharing footage despite broadcast bans, as well as for conduct authorities described as creating fear, praising crime, encouraging offenses, and circulating misinformation. Separately, 67 people were taken into custody over posts that authorities said suggested further attacks on other schools.

As part of the same investigation and measures described as aimed at protecting public order, restrictions were imposed on 1,104 social media accounts. Authorities did not provide additional details in the announcement on how the restrictions were applied, or how long they would remain in effect.

The detentions and account restrictions place renewed focus on how governments respond to online content during fast-moving security incidents, particularly when broadcast bans are in place. Officials linked the enforcement actions to concerns about public order and the spread of content that could amplify fear or encourage further offenses.

Key uncertainties remain based on the information released so far, including the specific platforms involved, the legal process timelines for those detained, and whether additional detentions or restrictions will follow as the investigation continues. Authorities have framed the steps as part of an ongoing effort tied to the shootings and related online activity.