A police raid took place on Wednesday morning (Oct. 14) at the headquarters of the Halk TV television station in Istanbul, with authorities taking control of the media outlet, which is aligned with the opposition in Turkey, and interrupting the live broadcast of its programming.

“The police are inside the Halk TV building. A commissioner has been appointed to take over management of the station. Live broadcasts have been suspended,” the television station said in a statement on platform X.

#BREAKING | Police raided Halk TV’s headquarters in Istanbul early this morning.

Following the raid, it was announced that an administrator had been appointed to the channel, and television broadcasts were suspended.

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While police teams continued their search of the building, the street where the channel is located was closed to traffic.

Halk TV employees were not allowed to enter the building.

— Sözcü (@gazetesozcu) October 14, 2026

Footage circulating on social media shows Halk TV employees gathered outside the station’s premises, as police are not allowing them to enter the building.

Halk TV is still under siege.

We are being prevented from entering our station. https://t.co/RCnImyuer1

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— Umut Taştan (@umuttastangzt) October 14, 2026

The moment the channel’s broadcast is abruptly cut off

Meanwhile, a video posted online captures the moment the broadcast was abruptly cut off.

According to Turkish media, police forces entered the building around 5:30 a.m. and conducted searches, while the street in front of the facility was also cordoned off.

The moment Turkey’s most popular news channel, Halk TV, cuts its regular broadcast and goes to a commercial break after government-appointed trustees seize control of the channel in a dawn raid over alleged financial crimes. https://t.co/i1U66lykld

— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) October 14, 2026

The station’s general news director, Suat Toktaş, attempted to ensure that the broadcast would continue by contacting the head of the appointed administration, but to no avail.

The development sparked reactions in Turkey, with opposition representatives denouncing the intervention as a blow to press freedom.

Source: protothema.gr