More than 30 media workers have been arrested during raids on organisations across Turkey.<br /><br />Turkish police raided the offices of Samanyolu Television and Zaman newspaper detaining executives and broadcasters. <br /><br />Both media organisations are known for their ties to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, a powerful former ally of Turkish president Recip Tayyap Erdogan, now in exile.<br /><br />The operation had been expected for several days after a widely-followed Twitter account said some 400 people, including around 150 journalists regarded as Gulen supporters, were being monitored.<br /><br />The Twitter account has previously given advance warning of police operations, allowing supporters to gather in anticipation of the raids.<br /><br />The ruling AK party has been in conflict with Gulen since a corruption investigation targeting Erdogan’s inner circle emerged one year ago.<br /><br />The probe led to the resignation of three ministers and prompted Erdogan to purge the state apparatus, reassigning thousands of police and hundreds of judges and prosecuters.<br /><br />Erdogan has also pushed through legislation increasing government control of the judiciary, most recently a law restructuring two top courts. Prosecuters have meanwhile dropped corruption cases.<br /><br />Erdogan has described Gulen supporters in the past as terrorists and traitors.<br /><br />The president said on Friday that he would pursue Gulen’s powerful Hizmet organisation into their “lairs”.<br /><br />The cleric denies accusations that he is looking to overthrow Turkey’s government.
