Turkey: 44 people detained in 'parallel state' operation
Forty-four people were taken into custody in 'parallel state' operation in 18 provinces
Turkish police have taken a total of 44 people into custody in "parallel state" operation launched Tuesday in Izmir and in 17 other provinces across Turkey, said security sources.
The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the suspects were detained for "acting outside of their legal authorities".
The suspects are accused of playing a role in the possible erroneous designation of defendants in another previous case in 2012.
In effect, the latter were accused in 2012 of "keeping military information and documents of a confidential nature".
Among the fresh batch of detainees are reportedly former a Izmir police chief, two deputy police chiefs and governors.
The detainees were taken to the department of anti-smuggling and organized crimes in Izmir.
According to the Turkish government, the “parallel state” or “parallel structure” refers to a purported group of Turkish bureaucrats and senior officials embedded in the country's institutions, including the judiciary and police, who are allegedly trying to undermine the elected Turkish government.
The ongoing operation against the “parallel state” has resulted in the detention of dozens of police officers and the reassignment of hundreds of other officers across Turkey.
