14 detained over social media terror propaganda in Istanbul

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

A total of 14 suspects were detained on early Feb. 24 over allegedly spreading terror propaganda on social media in Istanbul.

Istanbul counter-terrorism police have conducted operations in 17 addresses in various districts, targeting suspects who allegedly spread terror propaganda on social media, primarily after the deadly Ankara bombing on Feb. 17.

Some 14 suspects were detained in air-supported operations conducted in Küçükçekmece, Esenyurt, Avcılar and Başakşehir districts.

In addition, a pump-action rifle and various organizational documents were also seized during searches inside the suspected addresses.

Security officials claimed the suspects had changed their IP addresses and shared posts on social media supporting terror organizations with fake identities.

The interrogation of the suspects has been ongoing at the Istanbul Security General Directorate.

Meanwhile, police detained another suspect on Feb. 23 in the southeastern province of Gaziantep during an operation against an outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant who was injured in the Cizre district of the southeastern province of Şırnak during the security forces’ operation.

Counter-terrorism police raided an office in Cizre’s İncilipınar neighborhood after a tip-off that the militant came to the city and detained one suspect.

Documents and a computer inside the office were also confiscated. However, no clue was found about the whereabouts of the PKK militant.