'Parallel state' case, Turkish prosecutors seek arrests

ISTANBUL (AA) – Arrest warrants have been issued by prosecutors in Istanbul for 17 suspects detained during "parallel state" operations relating to an alleged illegal wiretapping investigation. The Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor’s office objected on Friday to the release of 17 out of 38 suspects detained in a series of recent “parallel state” raids. The investigation is the second major inquiry into police officers accused of conducting illegal wiretapping operations. The anti-corruption operations follow a December 2013 probe which led to the arrest of several high-profile figures, including the sons of three former government ministers and leading business people. All those detained in December have been released pending trial.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has called the December probe a "coup attempt" by a "parallel structure”.
He claims the Gulen movement, led by US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, has infiltrated the Turkish state and attempted to overthrow the government.