Turkish police have raided the headquarters of one of the country’s most-watched news channels, halting its live broadcasts.
Reports in Turkish media said financial crimes police were searching the building of Halk TV, a pro-opposition channel, and that 11 people had been taken into custody in a raid linked to the channel’s owner. The government also appointed a new administrator to run the channel.
It is the latest in a series of crackdowns on news sources deemed to be critical of Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan and his government.
Halk journalists were initially unable to get into the building, although they later were allowed in, several reporters said on X.
There was a heavy police presence in the building, they said.
Halk’s news channel and live broadcasts on its YouTube page were both offline early on Wednesday.
The channel has been seen by many in the country as being close to the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). It often voices criticism of Erdoğan’s ruling AK party.
Prosecutors said arrest warrants had been issued for 17 people as part of the investigation into Halk chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu on allegations of bribery, rigging tenders and money laundering, Turkish media reported.
Mahiroğlu, who was reportedly not in the country during the raid, wrote on social media that seven members of his family were among those detained.
“Today is a dark day for Turkey,” he said in a video message. “The public’s right to information is being seized for political reasons.”
The Istanbul Bar Association denounced the move, which it noted came hours before Ekrem Imamoğlu, widely seen as Erdoğan’s biggest political rival, was due to begin his defence against corruption charges in court, for which he has been in prison for over a year.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
