Turkish prosecutors investigating the failed July coup have issued an arrest warrant for one of the country’s best-known footballers, ex-international Hakan Sukur, state media report.
Searches were carried out at two houses in western Turkey, as officials said he faced charges of being a member of an “armed terrorist organisation”.
A former MP for the ruling AK party, Hakan Sukur is a known supporter of the cleric blamed for the botched coup.
He moved to the US several months ago.
Hakan Sukur’s twitter account and website were not publicly accessible on Friday, however, he has expressed support for cleric Fethullah Gulen in the past.
Mr Gulen lives in self-imposed exile in the US and the Turkish government has called for his extradition to face trial on charges of masterminding the failed 15 July coup. He denies involvement.
Some 270 people died and many more were wounded when parts of the armed forces tried to seize power.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded by purging the military and public services of tens of thousands of people suspected of following Mr Gulen, whom the government accuses of setting up a parallel state.
Hakan Sukur went on trial in absentia in June for insulting President Erdogan on social media and the decision by prosecutors to seek his arrest is not seen as a surprise because of his support for the US-based preacher.
Prosecutors have also sought the arrest of his father, who was for years his manager and has moved to the US as well.
‘Bull of the Bosphorus’
Hakan Sukur played for Turkey 112 times and scored 51 international goals
Joined Galatasaray in 1992 and was part of their Uefa Cup-winning team in 2000
Had spells with Torino (in 1995) and later with Inter Milan, Parma and Blackburn Rovers
Scored fastest-ever World Cup goal, after 11 seconds against South Korea in 2002
Retiring in 2007, he was an AKP MP for two years from 2011
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