Experts warn media coverage may fuel copycat school attacks in Turkey

On Oct. 6 a 15-year-old student from another school entered Şeyh Şamil Imam Hatip Middle School in Istanbul’s Başakşehir district and stabbed several pupils, resulting in eight injuries and one subsequent death. The attack follows a string of similar incidents in Şanlıurfa, Kahramanmaraş, Manisa and Osmaniye, raising concerns about a “social contagion” effect. Researchers cite U.S. data showing that school attacks can spark additional events for about 13 days, and Finnish studies of online subcultures that glorify perpetrators.

Experts such as Ayhan Erbay and Barış Erdoğan call for media to withhold attacker identities and details that could aid imitation, recommending coverage focus on victims and preventive measures. Parents have demanded stronger security, and the Education Ministry suspended classes for two days while providing psychosocial aid and launching investigations. The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) imposed a temporary broadcast ban on reporting until the probe concludes.