❗️Turkish police raid opposition broadcaster Halk TV, detain 11 employees

Turkish police raided the Istanbul headquarters of Halk TV, one of the country's leading opposition broadcasters, earlier today, interrupting its live transmission and placing the channel under state-appointed management.

Halk TV announced on social media that police had entered the building and an administrator had been appointed to take control. The Istanbul prosecutor's office confirmed that 17 people were subject to arrest warrants and 11 had been detained during coordinated morning operations, according to AFP.

The prosecutor's office said the operation formed part of an investigation into alleged corruption, bid-rigging, bribery and money laundering involving Halk TV chairman Cafer Mahiroğlu and associated companies. Authorities appointed Turkey's Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF), a state body, to oversee the affected companies.

The allegations remain under investigation and have not been established in court. The takeover adds to concerns over pressure on opposition media in Turkiye, with the Associated Press reporting that press freedom groups and opposition figures condemned the intervention.