Turkey Starts Probing Social Media Posts Against Syria Incursion

(Bloomberg) -- The Turkish police force started to crack down on social media content that it says went against the country’s military operation in Syria, and launched legal action against 78 people. It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone has been detained.The posts represented incitement to “hatred,” the national police force said on its website late Wednesday, and accused the posters of engaging in “propaganda of a terrorist organization.” The charges carry years in prison if upheld by a court.Turkish Warplanes and Artillery on the Attack: Syria UpdateTurkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally announced the beginning of a military offensive into northeastern Syria late Wednesday, three days after President Donald Trump said the U.S. wouldn’t stand in the way. A major ground incursion began hours later.The latest move by Turkish police mirrors actions during the country’s military operation into Syria’s Afrin town in early 2018, when hundreds of people were detained and some formally arrested.\--With assistance from Taylan Bilgic.To contact the reporter on this story: Ugur Yilmaz in Istanbul at uyilmaz@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Onur Ant at oant@bloomberg.net, Adveith Nair, Cagan KocFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

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