Turkish police raid critical media HQ, shut down live broadcast

Istanbul police used force on Oct. 28 to enter the headquarters and seize control of media outlets owned by the Koza-?pek Group, dramatically breaking into the main broadcasting room and shutting down two TV stations owned by the group.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on Oct. 26 ordered the Koza-?pek Group to be placed under the management of a trustee panel while an investigation is ongoing into the group's purported ties to the U.S.-based cleric Fetullah Gülen, a former government ally. President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) now accuse Gülen of heading a purported illegal organization that Erdo?an believes is trying to topple the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government with followers working as insiders in the police, the judiciary and other state institutions.

The police fired tear gas and water cannons at the crowd gathered in support outside the media group's office building in Istanbul's ?i?li district at around 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 28, two days after the initial court ruling, Do?an News Agency reported. The building is used by Kanaltürk TV, Bugün TV, daily Millet, and daily Bugün, all of which are owned by the Koza-?pek Group.

Breaking down the iron gates of the media group's compound, the police unplugged the wires and halted the TV stations' live broadcasts, escorting the newly appointed trustees into the building after scuffling with hundreds of employees and supporters of the Koza-?pek Group gathered outside in support.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, meanwhile, launched an inquiry on Oct. 28 into some protesters outside the building on charges of "resisting security personnel," "preventing security personnel from doing their official duty," and "inciting...