Turkey coup attempt: Arrest warrants issued for 42 journalists

Turkey’s authorities have issued detention warrants for 42 journalists, local media say, as part of an inquiry into the failed coup on 15 July.

Prominent commentator Nazli Ilicak is said to be on the list. Ankara has not publicly commented on the claim.

The authorities have already detained or placed under investigation thousands of soldiers, judges and civil servants.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to purge state bodies of the “virus” he says caused the revolt.

So far, five journalists have been detained for questioning, Turkish news agencies report.

The closure of several media outlets was ordered in the days following the attempted coup, but this is the first time that individual journalists have been identified, BBC in Istanbul reported.