In brief
Turkish authorities have ordered the arrests of 83 individuals for posting online content that praises recent tragic school shootings. A shooting in Kahramanmaras resulted in nine deaths, while another incident in Siverek injured 16. This response highlights the country's ongoing struggle with violent crime and the broader implications of digital speech.
Turkish police have ordered the arrests of 83 people accused of posting controversial content online about two deadly school shootings which took place this week.
They were found to have engaged in posts and activities praising crime and criminals and negatively affecting public order, police said. Access to 940 social media accounts have been blocked and 93 Telegram groups have been shut down.
At least nine people were killed in a shooting at a school in southern Turkey on Wednesday, a day after another attack injured 16 people at a high school in the country's southeast.
At least eight students and one teacher were killed in the school shooting in the Kahramanmaras area of southern Turkey. Turkish officials said 13 others were wounded, with six in critical condition.
A 14-year-old attacker was also killed during the incident at Ayser Calik Secondary School. The local prosecutor's office indicated the suspect planned the attack in advance, referencing digital materials found on his computer.
The shooter had previously expressed admiration for US mass killer Elliot Rodger, raising concerns about the influence of such figures in inspiring local violence.
The shooting was the second to occur in Turkey within a week, following a separate attack where 16 individuals were injured by a former student armed with a shotgun.
