Turkey has ordered the arrest of 176 serving military personnel over suspected links to the network which Ankara says was behind an attempted coup in 2016, the Istanbul chief prosecutors’ office said on Tuesday.
Among those facing arrest were a colonel, two lieutenant colonels, five majors, seven captains and 100 lieutenants, Reuters reports. The operation is encompassing the army, air force and navy, according to the statement.
Ankara says US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen masterminded the failed putsch, while he has denied any involvement.
More than 77,000 people have been jailed pending trial and about 150,000 civil servants, military personnel and others have been sacked or suspended from their jobs in the 3-year purge since the coup attempt.