Dutch police arrest ‘Erdoğan supporter’ for threats after failed Turkish coup

Turkey’s government has accused U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen and his supporters of orchestrating the July 15 attempt to overthrow the Turkish government. 

The arrested man is a supporter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and is suspected of having threatened Gülen backers online and in person, a Dutch official said on condition of anonymity. 

In a statement, Dutch police said they had investigated 150 complaints related to the aftermath of Turkey’s coup since mid-July, roughly half of them for threats and intimidation appearing on social media. 

Investigations into the complaints resulted in the man’s arrest, the statement said. No details were provided about the suspect, but prosecutors said more arrests were likely. 

Turkey’s post-coup fallout has spilled over into Turkish immigrant neighborhoods in the Netherlands, with lists of purported Gülen supporters circulating on social media, exposing families and school children to death threats. 

“We aim to de-escalate, but if necessary we will take action,” said Peter Slort, a regional police chief.