Erdogan has said the purge is needed to wipe out what he calls the “virus” of Gulen from Turkish institutions.
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The UAE and Egyptian counterintelligence agencies have been bracing for anonymous attacks on Gulen’s loyalists across the Arab world, coordinated behind the scenes by Turkish intelligence, and are expecting attempts on the cleric’s life, the official said.
Following a failed coup in Turkey in July, Turkish officials, who had previously defended the downing of the Russian jet, distanced themselves from the incident, saying that the bomber aircraft had been targeted by military personnel who later took part in the putsch attempt against Ankara.
Turkish police launched simultaneous operations on Tuesday against 44 companies in Istanbul over their suspected links to the July 15 failed coup attempt. The private Dogan news agency said the companies searched included a supermarket chain. But there are worse ways of dying.
A Justice Ministry file had been delivered to Greece requesting the officers’ return over charges that include breaching the Constitution through the use of force, plotting to kill the president and crimes against the parliament and government, the Anadolu Agency reported.
The government has launched a massive crackdown on alleged supporters of the Gulen movement, raising concerns among Western allies and human rights groups.
Gulen has denied any prior knowledge or involvement in the coup.
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More than 35,000 people have been detained for questioning, while tens of thousands of others have been dismissed from government jobs, including those in the judiciary, media, and military.
