ISTANBUL, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Turkish prosecutors on Monday issued detention warrants for at least 47 suspects, including serving soldiers, over their alleged links to a group believed to be behind a failed coup in 2016.
Police launched simultaneous operations in 14 provinces and northern Cyprus to catch a total of 27 suspects on the orders of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in the northwestern province of Balikesir, the Hurriyet daily said.
Some soldiers serving in the Turkish armed forces were targeted as well in the operations, the report said.
Additionally, police are hunting 20 military personnel in a separate operation ordered by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in the northwestern province of Canakkale, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
The suspects have allegedly contacted via pay phone with the network headed by U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen.
The Turkish government blames Gulen and his network for masterminding the coup bid in July 2016, in which 250 people were killed, and has been pushing for his extradition.
Ankara has been tightening operations against suspects linked to the Gulen movement.
