Turkey seeks detention of 118 military personnel for alleged coup d'état

The Turkish police launched an operation on Tuesday, at the request of the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office, to arrest 118 military personnel on suspicion of belonging to the brotherhood of exiled preacher Fethullah Gülen, whom the Turkish government accuses of instigating the failed coup d'état in 2016. 

The operation extends to 33 of the country's 81 provinces, the Habertürk newspaper reported. Several military personnel are among the suspects, while the rest were previously suspended by presidential decree, to be investigated for alleged links with Gülen's group. 

In late December, 351 Turkish military and officials were arrested in another major operation on suspicion of links to the alleged coup plotters. 

Following the failed and controversial attempt, whose top military leaders have never publicly confessed their allegiance to Gülen, the Turkish government launched extensive purges in the administration and education sector, laying off more than 130,000 employees and arresting more than 100,000 people.  

Some 50,000 people, the vast majority of them civilians, were taken into custody, of whom 28,000 were imprisoned last year. 

In December, a court in Ankara sentenced 333 military personnel and four civilians to life imprisonment for their participation in the uprising.