Arrest warrants were issued yesterday for 42 journalists on the grounds that they are affiliated with the Gülenist Terror Organization (FETÖ) after the failed coup attempt on July 15.
Among those targeted by the warrants is prominent journalist Nazlı Ilıcak, who is a fierce supporter of the FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fethullah Gülen.
Five people have been detained so far, although 11 of the suspects are believed to already be outside the country. Police are searching for Ilıcak in the holiday resort of Bodrum.
As the government continues its crackdown on FETÖ and affiliated people in the judiciary, military, police, education and other institutions, more journalists are expected to be detained as part of the wide-raging anti-FETÖ investigation.
The journalists for whom arrest warrants have been issued are Abdullah Abdulkadiroğlu, Abdullah Kılıç, Ahmet Dönmez, Ali Akkuş, Arda Akın, Ayşe Nazlı Ilıcak, Bayram Kaya, Bilal Şahin, Bülent Ceyhan, Bülent Mumay, Bünyamin Köseli, Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, Cevheri Güven, Cihan Acar, Cuma Ulus, Emre Soncan, Ercan Gün, Erkan Akkuş, Ertuğrul Erbaş, Fatih Akalan, Fatih Yağmur, Habip Güler, Hanım Büşra Erdal, Haşim Söylemez, Hüseyin Aydın, İbrahim Balta, Kamil Maman, Kerim Gün, Levent Kenez, Mahmut Hazar, Mehmet Gündem, Metin Yıkar, Muhammed Fatih Uğur, Mustafa Erkan Acar, Mürsel Genç, Selahattin Sevi, Seyid Kılıç, Turan Görüryılmaz, Ufuk Şanlı, Ufuk Emin Köroğlu, Yakup Sağlam and Yakup Çetin.
31 academics with suspected links to FETÖ detained Police took 31 academics from Istanbul University suspected of having links to the Gülenist Terror Organization (FETÖ) into custody on Monday.
The operation was mainly based in Istanbul but also saw detentions in other provinces.
During a search of Istanbul University and the suspects' houses, police found 10 $1 bills believed to have been sent by Pennsylvania-based Fetullah Gülen to help members recognize each other.
An Anadolu Agency correspondent learned all the seized banknotes' serial numbers start with an "S."
Many detained FETÖ suspects' dollar bills have been added to evidence by police who believe the letter in the serial numbers of the banknotes are used as code within the organization.
Other provinces covered by the operation include Tekirdag, Kocaeli, Denizli and Kırklareli.
The failed coup attempt began late on Friday, July 15 when rogue elements of the Turkish military tried to overthrow the country's democratically elected government, killing at least 246 people and injuring more than 2,100 others.
The government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of Gülen.
Gülen is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state by having members of his Gülen Movement infiltrate the country's institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming a "parallel structure."