ANKARA – Turkish authorities have issued detention warrants for 105 information technology experts suspected of aiding last year’s failed coup, the state-run news agency reported.
The warrants were issued Tuesday as Turkey kicked off a week of events commemorating the July 15 anniversary of the thwarted coup and remembering about 250 people who were killed.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım visited a graveyard in Istanbul where some of the victims were buried, while special prayers were to be recited in honor of the dead at mosques across the country.
Anadolu Agency says 52 of the suspects, who include ex-employees of Turkey’s scientific research council and of the telecommunications authority, have been detained so far. They are accused of providing technical support to the coup plotters.
Turkey has blamed U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gülen for the coup and is seeking his extradition. Gülen has denied involvement.
Turkey declared a state of emergency following the attempt and embarked on a sweeping crackdown, arresting some 50,000 people for alleged links to the coup and dismissing over 100,000 from government jobs.
