Turkish police have arrested 162 people accused of posting controversial content online about two deadly school shootings that 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.
At least 16 people were injured in a shooting at a high school in the country’s south-east on Tuesday, before another nine were killed in a shooting at another school in the city of Kahramanmaras on Wednesday.
Hundreds have gathered near the city’s main mosque for the funerals of the young victims, which are being held on Thursday.
One victim has been identified as 10-year-old Zeynep. Her uncle, Mahmut, told the BBC that she was a clever girl who respected others. He said: “Now she is an angel, she flew away.”
He said he wanted more protection in schools following the attack.
The aunt of another victim, Shura, told the BBC she had learned that her 10-year-old niece had been killed when her name was read out on the news.
Three Turkish government ministers are also expected to attend the funerals, the BBC understands.
Eight students and one teacher were killed in the shooting in Kahramanmaras, Turkish officials said, with 13 others wounded, including six in critical condition.
A 14-year-old attacker was also killed during the incident, which took place at Ayser Calik Secondary School.
The suspect had planned the attack in advance, the local prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
“During the examination of digital materials, a document dated April 11, 2026, was found on the suspect’s computer indicating that he intended to carry out a major operation in the near future.”
The suspect had referenced US mass killer Elliot Rodger in a photo on his WhatsApp profile, according to police. Rodger murdered six people before taking his own life in California in 2014.
Turkish media reported that the attacker, believed to be a student, entered two classrooms and had five guns and seven magazines with him.
Tuesday’s attack, which saw 16 injured, took place at the Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Siverek district.
The attacker, who was an ex-student in his late teens, fired “indiscriminately with a shotgun” before killing himself with the weapon, local governor Hasan Şildak said.
Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said that 95 individuals had been arrested following government concerns over online behaviour following the attacks.
They have been accused of sharing footage relating to the attack despite a broadcast ban, sharing content that could create fear, praising crime and encouraging offences, and circulating misinformation.
Restrictions have also been imposed on 1,104 social media accounts, Gürlek said.
Another 67 people have been taken into custody after being accused of sharing posts indicating that attacks would be carried out at other schools.
By BBC News
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