Turkey's coup probe expands to senior U.S. officials

The Turkish authorities have targeted a former CIA director and other Americans in the ongoing investigation into a network accused of masterminding a failed coup last year, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Saturday.

The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul, in response to a criminal complaint filed by some attorneys, decided to launch a probe into 17 individuals suspected of being linked to the Gulen movement led by Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based preacher, Anadolu said.

The agency said among the suspects are former CIA director John Brennan, Senator Chuck Schumer from New York, Preet Bharara who seved as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York until last month, David Cohen who once worked with the U.S. Treasury and Henri Barkey, director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington D.C.

Anadolu said the 17 suspects have been accused of attempting to overthrow the Turkish government and the country's constitution and being members of a terror organization.

Speeches and social media messages related to the Gulen movement made by the suspects are included in the probe, the agency noted, adding Turkey may apply to Interpol for a red notice against suspects living abroad.

Since the coup bid in July last year, tens of thousands of public servants, military members, police officers, judicial personnel and academics have since been dismissed and jailed.

Turkey has been pushing for Gulen's extradition, a case that has contributed to strained ties with the United States. Endit