Istanbul Courthouses Raided In Coup Probe

August 15, 2016

Police in Istanbul have raided three courthouses to enforce detention warrants against 173 judicial-system personnel wanted in connection with the failed coup attempt last month.

The August 15 raids were part of a massive crackdown following the attempted coup, which the Turkish government blames on followers of self-exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in the United States.

In all, more than 35,000 people have been detained in the investigation, including 17,000 who have been placed formally under arrest. Tens of thousands more have been suspended from their jobs.

Turkey has been pressuring the United States to extradite Gulen.

Some 240 people died during the July 15 coup attempt against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters