Turkish 14-Year-Old Middle School Student Commits Mass Shooting... Posts Misogynistic Images on SNS

A middle school student who killed nine people in a mass shooting in Turkey was found to have posted images related to misogynistic figures on social networking services (SNS).

A middle school in Turkey where a shooting incident occurred on the 15th (local time). Photo by AP News Agency

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On April 16 (local time), the General Directorate of Security (EGM) under Turkey's Ministry of Interior announced that it had analyzed the digital data of Mersinli (14), an eighth-grade student who committed the shooting at a middle school in Kahramanmara? the previous day and then took his own life, and made this determination.

According to the investigation, his WhatsApp messenger profile featured an image reminiscent of Elliot Rodger (23 at the time), who killed six people in a random shooting spree on the streets of California in May 2014 before committing suicide. Prior to his crime, Rodger posted on YouTube, saying, "Women have given their affection and love to other men but never to me," and "I will kill every girl in the dormitory and then go out to the streets of Isla Vista and kill everyone." He had announced his plans in advance.

At the time, Rodger drew attention for using the term "incel," which stands for "involuntary celibate." This word has since repeatedly appeared in several similar misogynistic crimes in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The General Directorate of Security stated that "this case does not appear to be related to terrorism" and assessed it as an act committed solely by an individual. It added, "Arrest warrants have been issued for 83 people involved in glorifying the crime and criminal, or engaging in acts that undermine public order," and that 940 related SNS accounts were immediately blocked.

The incident occurred at around 1:30 p.m. the previous day. Mersinli entered two fifth-grade classrooms and fired indiscriminately. As a result, a total of nine people-eight students and one teacher-were killed, and 13 others were injured. Six of the injured have been classified as critical, and among them, three are reportedly in extremely serious condition, raising the possibility that the death toll could rise further.

However, according to Kahramanmara? Governor M?kerrem ?nl?er, Mersinli died at the scene, apparently by taking his own life. The specific motive for the crime remains unknown.

It has been determined that Mersinli concealed five firearms and seven magazines belonging to his father, a former police officer, in his bag and brought them to school. Prosecutors have arrested his father and are investigating him for negligence in firearm management.

Meanwhile, in Turkey, individuals can obtain licenses to own and carry firearms only after undergoing strict procedures, including checks on mental health and criminal records.

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