German authorities cooperating with Turkey to apprehend coup suspect: Interior minister

ISTANBUL

There is a strong suspicion that Turkey’s most wanted coup suspect, theology lecturer Adil Öksüz, is in Germany, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said on June 13.

Speaking to daily Yeni Şafak, Soylu said Germany’s attitude toward the July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey “has changed in the last three to four months” and the German authorities are now cooperating with Turkey in its attempt to apprehend the coup suspect.

Öksüz, wanted on charges of being a senior figure in what the authorities now call the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), a former close ally of the government, is accused of masterminding the July 2016 in Turkey.

Turkish officials have repeatedly appealed to the German government to arrest and extradite Öksüz after receiving dozens of tips indicating he was hiding in Germany.

Since November last year, German police have been actively searching for Öksüz but have so far failed to find him, according to diplomatic sources, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on June 14.

Several witnesses recently told Anadolu Agency that Turkey’s most wanted man stayed at a small apartment in Berlin early this year under the protection of FETÖ members.

“There is a strong suspicion that Adil Öksüz is in Germany. Germany says ‘If he is here, we will do what is necessary,’” Soylu said.

In Germany, which is home to more than 3 million Turkish immigrants, Gülenists have a large network with dozens of private schools, businesses and media organizations.

Several FETÖ suspects, including former soldiers and diplomats, have applied for asylum in various German federal states.