Turkey restricted access to major social media platforms following a deadly terrorist attack on Wednesday at the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) in Ankara. The assault left five people dead and injured over 20 others.
Soon after the attack, the government blocked access to platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. NetBlocks, an organization that monitors internet access worldwide, confirmed the lockdown on its X account, saying, “Live metrics show social media platforms including X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok have been restricted in #Turkey.” The organization noted that the social media restrictions followed a government-imposed broadcast ban on coverage of the attack.
Authorities have not announced when the social media lockdown will end.
Eyewitnesses reported a large explosion followed by intense gunfire. Images from the scene showed extensive structural damage outside the TUSAS complex, with a huge plume of smoke visible from a distance.
According to Turkey’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, both attackers — a man and a woman — were killed during the incident. Although Yerlikaya did not disclose who was responsible, Defense Minister Yasar Guler suggested the attack may have been orchestrated by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a militant group long at odds with the Turkish government.
