14-year old boy reportedly shot both parents and self dead in ‘blue whale’ online suicide game

A 14-year-old Turkish Cypriot boy who shot and killed both his parents before taking his own life was reportedly taking part in an online death challenge.

The tragic incident took place in Geçitkale, Northern Cyprus. 

According to local media reports, the family’s deaths were linked to the disturbing “blue whale” online suicide challenge. The challenge involves a series of tasks, which escalate over 50 days, and can end in violence.

The bodies of Ibrahim Cobanoglu, 52, and wife Bengu, 48, were discovered by their neighbours, after they were killed in their sleep.

The youngest son, Cinar Cobanoglu, 14, was also discovered with serious injuries nearby.

“Cınar Cobanoglu was taken to state hospital, despite all the interventions, lost his life because he could not be saved.”

The neighbours were alerted after the family’s other son, Erlap, 18, ran to them and said his “younger brother had gone berserk”.

At the property they discovered the parents were dead.

We woke up at three in the morning with a violent knock on our door, the neighbour said.

Turkish Cypriot police are continuing their investigation. Police said it was too early comment on whether the teen was influenced by social media.

A police spokesperson said the parents “lost their lives at the scene by being shot with a pistol in the bedroom of their residence”.