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Mass arrests over social media reactions to school attacks
Turkish authorities have detained 162 individuals accused of publishing inflammatory content online following two fatal school shootings this week. Police stated the posts included praise for violence and disrupted public order.
Timeline of the attacks
On Tuesday, a gunman injured 16 people at Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the southeastern district of Siverek. The attacker, a former student in his late teens, fired indiscriminately with a shotgun before taking his own life, according to local governor Hasan Şildak.
The following day, nine people were killed and 13 wounded-six critically-when a 14-year-old opened fire at Ayser Calik Secondary School in Kahramanmaras. The assailant, who also died during the incident, was armed with five guns and seven magazines, Turkish media reported.
Victims and public mourning
Funerals for the young victims are being held on Thursday, drawing hundreds to Kahramanmaras' main mosque. Among the deceased is 10-year-old Zeynep, described by her uncle Mahmut as a bright and respectful girl. "Now she is an angel, she flew away," he told the BBC, calling for stronger school security.
Another victim, 10-year-old Shura, was identified when her name was announced on the news, her aunt told the BBC. Three government ministers are expected to attend the funerals.
Investigation reveals premeditation
The Kahramanmaras attacker had planned the assault in advance, the local prosecutor's office said. A document dated April 11, 2026, found on his computer outlined intentions for a "major operation." Police also noted his WhatsApp profile referenced Elliot Rodger, a US mass killer who murdered six people in California in 2014.
Crackdown on online content
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced 95 arrests for sharing attack footage despite a broadcast ban, spreading fear-inducing content, glorifying crime, or disseminating misinformation. An additional 67 people were detained for posts suggesting further school attacks.
Restrictions were imposed on 1,104 social media accounts, Gürlek added, as authorities intensified scrutiny of online behavior.
Government response
Officials have not disclosed specific measures to prevent future attacks but emphasized the need to curb harmful online discourse. The shootings have reignited debates over school safety and digital content regulation in Turkey.
