Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
July 26, 2016
Turkey on July 26 widened its crackdown after a failed coup by detaining the top Turkish military generals that are serving as part of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Turkish media reports said Major General Mehmet Cahit Bakir and Brigadier General Sener Topuc were detained by authorities at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of having links to the July 15 attempted coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Bakir is the commander of Turkey’s task force in Afghanistan.
Topuc is the chief of the Appointment Department for Turkish Land Forces.
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency said their detentions were the result of cooperation between Turkish intelligence and U.A.E. authorities.
Anadolu said the two were being transported to Turkey on July 26.
A spokesman for NATO forces in Afghanistan said on July 26 that “the Turkish contingent continues its mission,” without further comment.
Based on reporting by AFP and Anadolu