Turkish security forces have apprehended 18 suspects in seven provinces for their alleged involvement with a network accused of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016, as reported by the state-run TRT broadcaster today.
The suspects are said to have ties to the Gulen movement, which the Turkish government holds responsible for a coup attempt that resulted in the deaths of at least 250 individuals on July 15, 2016.
Concurrently, arrest warrants have been issued for 23 suspects as part of ongoing investigations.
The prosecutor’s office in Izmir is conducting inquiries into the “covered structure of the group (the Gulen movement) within the Turkish armed forces,” according to TRT.
Of the individuals sought, nine are soldiers, six of whom are currently on active duty, while 14 others are former military school students whose ties were severed following the coup.
Turkish authorities are also pursuing five fugitives, two of whom are confirmed to be abroad.
The government has accused members of the group of engaging in exam fraud to assist their infiltrators in securing positions in the public sector and gaining admission to military schools.
The Gulen movement, named after Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, is purportedly led by him and considered a spiritual guide by his followers.
Following the 2016 coup attempt, the Turkish government initiated a widespread crackdown on individuals associated with the movement.
