Turkish police raid science council as crackdown widens

Turkish police raid science council as crackdown widens

ISTANBUL – Reuters
Turkish police raid science council as crackdown widens

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Turkish police unites have raided the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey’s (TÜBİTAK) offices in the Gebze district of western Kocaeli province, an official said on Aug. 3, as authorities widened the investigation into followers of a U.S.-based cleric accused of masterminding last month’s failed coup attempt.

Broadcaster NTV reported that police units raided TÜBİTAK offices on Aug. 3 and detained “many” people.

However, a TÜBİTAK official told Reuters the raid had happened July 31, adding he did not have any details about the number of detentions. He declined to comment further.

TÜBİTAK funds science research projects in universities and the private sector and employs more than 1,500 researchers, according to its website.