Turkish prosecutor's office orders arrest of 167 soldiers for alleged coup

At the request of the Izmir Public Prosecutor's Office, the Turkish police began an operation on Tuesday to arrest 167 military personnel suspected of belonging to the brotherhood of exiled preacher Fethullah Gülen, whom the Turkish government accuses of instigating the attempted coup d'état in 2016.

The police operation extends to 56 of the country's 81 provinces, according to the official agency Anadolu. Most of the suspects - 119 - are active members of the armed forces, while some were retired or were expelled from the force by decree.

The Turkish government holds the Brotherhood of Gülen responsible for the failed coup d'état of 15 July 2016 and has been pursuing it as a terrorist organisation ever since.

A week ago, more than 300 soldiers were arrested in various operations throughout the territory, accused of coup links.

Since the failed assault, more than 19,500 members of the Turkish Armed Forces have been expelled from the army for their alleged links with the Gülen supporters' network, the same reason why, in total, more than 120,000 state officials have been dismissed and some 50,000 are in prison.

The conservative preacher, a former ally of the ruling Islamist party AKP and since 1999 an exile in the United States, denies any involvement in the 2016 coup attempt.