Recent rumors of potential new plotting coups in Turkey are suspected to have political motivations aimed at sowing discord within the ruling Nation Alliance and the Justice and Development Party (AKP), led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the pro-government newspaper Hurriyet reports.
The speculation of a coup plot emerged after a statement by Devlet Bahceli, an ally of Erdogan and leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which is part of the ruling alliance. Bahceli claimed that a faction within the Ankara Security Directorate and judicial bodies was planning to replicate the 2016 coup attempt linked to the FETO organization (banned in Turkey and labeled as a terrorist entity). This statement followed a security operation where three police officers were arrested for "conspiracy to commit a crime," "attempting to influence judicial proceedings and witnesses," and "abuse of office." The suspects are alleged members of the criminal organization "Ayhan Bora Kaplan," under investigation by the Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office.
In response to the police operation and Bahceli's coup warning, President Erdogan convened a meeting on Tuesday evening with Ibrahim Kalin, head of the National Intelligence Organization, and Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc. The pro-government newspaper Sabah suggested that the meeting discussed Bahceli's claims and hinted at possible involvement by foreign intelligence agencies, including Israel's Mossad, in preparing the coup.
Hande Firat, a columnist for Hurriyet and a government-affiliated journalist, reported on CNN Turk that Erdogan's meeting was initially planned for Monday but postponed to Tuesday. Hurriyet highlighted that Turkey is confronting "serious events" with underlying causes yet to be fully understood. The Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, is expected to make a statement following the conclusion of the investigation into the police criminal group.
Interior Ministry Operation
On Tuesday, the Turkish Interior Minister announced a large-scale operation against the FETO organization, resulting in the detention of 544 people across the country, including 48 in Ankara. The connection between this operation and the investigation into the "police case" remains unclear.
On July 15, 2016, a faction of military and civilian conspirators attempted a coup in Turkey, aiming to overthrow the legitimate government and President Erdogan. The two-day conflict led to 252 deaths and 2,200 injuries. Turkish authorities accuse Fethullah Gulen, a preacher and leader of the FETO organization who resides in the USA, of masterminding the coup.
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Based on materials from TASS