Turkish police hold 7 in 'parallel'-linked probe

KAYSERI, Turkey

Police have arrested a number businessmen and university executives in central Turkey as part of investigations into what is termed the ‘parallel state’.

Security sources told Anadolu Agency that the early Wednesday swoops in Turkey’s central Kayseri province were based on arrest warrants issued for a total of 11 businessmen.

These include senior executives of Boydak Holding and Meliksah University, in the scope of an operation launched to probe charges of "qualified and organized robbery".

During the raids, police teams detained seven people but four were not present at their addresses.

The raids follow a similar operation against the Koza Ipek group in Ankara and Istanbul early this month.

Turkish authorities are probing an organization purportedly led by Fetullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Islamic preacher accused of plotting to overthrow the Turkish government by infiltrating state institutions, including the police and judiciary, in a conspiracy dubbed the ‘parallel state’.

The organization is also said to be behind a December 2013 corruption investigation into senior government figures, including ministers.