Turkish Authorities Arrest 32 Individuals Tied to Failed Coup Attempt

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Turkish Authorities Arrest 32 Individuals Tied to Failed Coup Attempt

Istanbul, Dec 25 (NationPress) Turkish authorities have apprehended 32 individuals in a crackdown aimed at those suspected of being connected to a network implicated in the 2016 coup attempt.

The operation was orchestrated by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Izmir, involving intelligence and counter-terrorism units across four provinces on Tuesday, according to a report from Xinhua news agency citing state-run TRT.

An arrest warrant was issued for 35 suspects after authorities found that they were actively involved in the current structure of the Gulen movement, which the Turkish government blames for the coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

The investigation revealed that these suspects were seeking new strategies to reorganize the group and obtain financial support.

According to TRT, police conducted six months of physical and technical surveillance to track the activities of the suspects, and efforts are still underway to apprehend the remaining three individuals.

The movement, named after Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who died in September in the United States, has been accused by the Turkish government of orchestrating the coup attempt that led to the deaths of over 250 people.

Earlier on Tuesday, Turkish authorities detained 16 suspects across four provinces for allegedly financing the Islamic State (IS), local media reported.

This operation was part of a probe initiated by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in the western city of Izmir.

The prosecutors had issued warrants for 23 individuals, it was reported.

Following these warrants, police units raided 10 businesses across Izmir, Mersin, Adana, and Manisa, apprehending 16 suspects and seizing $4,110, 7,205 euros, 434,650 Turkish liras, 40 grams of gold, and various digital materials.