Türkiye’s parliamentary commission investigating the causes of school attacks heard testimony from academics on psychological counseling, guidance services and radicalization, with experts warning that digital environments are increasingly fueling violent behavior among children.
Speaking before the commission, Prof. Hilmi Demir of TOBB University of Economics and Technology said recent school attacks in the provinces of Kahramanmaraş and Şanlıurfa reflected patterns associated with online radicalization rather than isolated acts of violence.
Demir said some perpetrators displayed deep hostility toward society and left behind manifestos outlining ideological motivations, a phenomenon he described as increasingly visible in Türkiye.
He argued that digital platforms can expose minors to communities that normalize violence, cruelty and extremist narratives.
According to Demir, children in such online networks may reinforce one another’s behavior through competition, notoriety and imitation rather than direct coordination.
