Turkey detains 348 people in crackdown on online-recruited hitmen
Police held the suspects in 58 of Turkey's 81 provinces, seizing 42 pistols, 35 long guns and 2,865 rounds of ammunition, the Interior Ministry said.
Nationwide operation
Turkey's Interior Ministry announced on Thursday, 15 October, that 348 people had been detained in a nationwide operation against paid killers recruited online. Police made the arrests in 58 of the country's 81 provinces, according to figures the Hurriyet daily relayed from the ministry. The operation targeted criminal groups that used social media platforms to recruit people for contract killings and to advertise such services. The ministry's findings say the suspects worked through group chats on messaging apps, where they sought people to carry out killings or offered criminal services to others. The articles do not say how many of the 348 have been charged.
Weapons and material seized
Searches turned up 42 pistols, 35 long guns and 26 blank-firing pistols. Officers also recovered one stick of dynamite, one anti-aircraft projectile and 2,865 rounds of ammunition.
- Pistols
- 42 items
- Long guns
- 35 items
- Blank-firing pistols
- 26 items
Recruitment and content
According to the ministry, the posts published by these suspects contained threats, insults and gang propaganda. That material glorified crimes and criminals while promoting the activity of the criminal groups. The ministry said the groups use social platforms to recruit new members and to normalise crime. It also said the groups carry their rivalries and disputes onto digital platforms.
Official framing and open questions
The ministry described the detainees as a new generation of criminal networks. It said authorities remain determined to pursue people who encourage crime online, spread gang propaganda and run networks that target young people. The articles do not report any specific killing carried out by these groups. They also do not say whether any suspects have appeared before a court or how long they will be held.