Turkish police detain 46, including high-ranking officials, in 'parallel state' operation

At least 46 people, including a number of high-ranking officials and security personnel, were detained in 18 Turkish provinces on Nov. 3, as part of an anti-terror operation in the Aegean province of ?zmir against the followers of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gülen, a former ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an. 

Among the 46 people detained were former ?zmir Police Department Chief Ali Bilkay, former Deputy Police Chiefs Mehmet Ali ?evik and Ramazan Karakaya, a high-ranking police officer in the eastern province of Elaz??, off-duty governors and deputy governors, and other senior officials.

The police raided multiple locations and detained at least 44 people early on Nov. 3, on charges of "keeping militarily confidential information and documents" and "committing out-of-duty actions," the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The targeted a purported illegal organization that Erdo?an and the government describe as the "Fetullahist Terrorist Organization," daily Hürriyet reported.

According to the Hürriyet report, detention warrants have been issued for a total of 57 people, including Gülen.

The operation in ?zmir came as part of an investigation launched by the ?zmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The move came less than a week after the Istanbul police used force on Oct. 28 to enter the headquarters and seize control of media outlets owned by the Koza ?pek Group. Police dramatically broke into the main broadcasting room and shut down the group's two TV stations upon a court ruling, which placed the media group's management under a trustee panel during the ongoing judicial probe into Koza ?pek's purported ties to Gülen.

Gülen has long been accused by Erdo?an and Justice and Development Party (AKP)...