Turkey: 97 arrested after looting in earthquake zones

WORLD, Feb. 14 (YPA) – Arrest warrants have been issued for 97 people in Turkey after looting in the area hit by devastating earthquakes last week.

A total of 232 people are under investigation for looting, theft and fraud, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Monday.

According to eyewitnesses, the situation in the earthquake zones is partly tense, according to government reports there was also looting.

Turkey’s representative to Human Rights Watch, Emma Sinclair-Webb, and the Diyarbakir Bar Association expressed concern about unverified reports that suspected thieves had been mistreated.

The UN representative appealed to the authorities to “take action” against suspected thieves, as well as against people who practice retribution outside the scope of justice.

On Monday, Turkish authorities issued arrest warrants for 31 people in the province of Malatya, as part of the case of buildings destroyed by the earthquake.

The Malatya prosecutor’s office launched an investigation into the malfunction of the collapsed buildings.

E.M