Total detainees in Türkiye’s Discord probe rise to 5 with 2 new arrests

In the ongoing investigation into posts shared on the social media platform Discord, two more suspects have been arrested, bringing the total number of detainees to five.

Following the shocking murders committed by Semih Celik, an investigation into Discord users glorifying the crimes and sharing blackmail and exploitation videos involving young girls has intensified. As part of this inquiry, two more suspects have been arrested.

Group administrators E.K. and A.T., known as “C31K” on Discord, were taken into custody by Ankara police. After questioning at the police station, they were brought to the courthouse, where E.K. was arrested while A.T. was released under judicial control.

Additionally, another suspect, identified as O.P., was arrested following a court hearing. O.P. allegedly instructed a young girl during a Discord stream to pour cologne on her body and set it alight.

Background of case

The investigation began after it was revealed that certain individuals had voiced support for Semih Celik on social media. Celik had committed a double murder in Istanbul’s Fatih district before taking his own life.

Discord became notorious for hosting illegal content, including blackmail and child exploitation, leading Türkiye to block access to the U.S.-based communication platform on Oct. 9.

Türkiye’s response to Discord

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced the platform’s ban on X, stating that the measure was taken following a request from the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

He emphasized that the decision to block access to Discord was made because of reasonable suspicion of the platform being used to commit crimes, including child exploitation and obscenity, as per Article 8/1 of Law No. 5651.

He reassured the public, saying: “We are determined to protect our children and youth from the harmful effects of illegal content on social media. We will never allow attempts to undermine the foundations of our society.”

Discord blocked in Türkiye

Besides announcing the investigation’s progress, the minister reiterated Türkiye’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens from the dangers posed by online platforms that may promote illegal activities.

What led to investigation?

On Oct. 6, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya revealed that a video involving the blackmail of a young girl had circulated on social media. However, the Cyber Crimes Department found that the video was staged.

While the girl, identified as E.N.B., was taken into protective custody and interviewed with the assistance of a psychologist, the individual responsible for spreading the disinformation, an 18-year-old named T.D., was arrested in Ankara.

Prior to these arrests, three individuals – T.D., M.E.O. and F.T. – were also detained for their involvement with a Discord group that operated under the name “HAHA.”

The investigation is ongoing, with Turkish authorities actively monitoring illegal content shared on the platform. Additional arrests may occur as the inquiry continues to broaden.