Police raids in 19 provinces, 20 detained as 'parallel state' investigation intensifies

Turkish police raided multiple locations on May 22 in at least 19 provinces, while carrying out a ?parallel structure? investigation, detaining as many as 20 people, including several businessmen and a former police chief. Raids have mostly been centered in Konya, a central Anatolian province.

The raids, as part of the ?parallel structure? investigation headed by the Konya Chief Public Prosecution, 20 people have been detained over charges of involvement in the alleged ?Fethullahist Terror Organization.?

Among the detainees were several businessmen and Ercan Ta?tekin, a former police chief who served in both Konya and the eastern province of Bingöl. 

?I have been detained possibly for speaking out and telling the truth. Okay. No problem,? tweeted Ercan Ta?tekin early May 22 about his detention.

Anadolu Atayün, a former manager in Konya Police Department?s Branch for Trafficking and Organized Crimes who was dismissed from his job when he served the chief inspector of the Turkish National Police Department, was also reported as detained.

The number of detainees is expected to increase, as the Konya Governorate has said detention warrants have been issued for 66 more people.

On May 22, the Konya Governorate said via a statement that, over charges of membership in the Fethullahist Terror Organization and violating the secrecy of the investigation, privacy and communication, the Konya Police Department raided the Okyanus Group on May 11.

Several businessmen from the Active Businessmen and Industrialists Association along with local police officers in Konya were among the detained.

The first wave of raids began on May 11 when a lawyer, M.O., was arrested in the Konya Airport on charges of involvement...