162 Turkish officers arrested in coup trial

133 current and former military officers were jailed on Friday, pending the outcome of their trial on charges of plotting to overthrow the government and warrants issued for the arrests of 29 other officers, Hurriyet reports. Turkish security forces immediately closed all the courthouse doors and detained the defendants, including the
former air force and navy chiefs.

The officers, including several high-ranking generals, are on trial accused of conspiring to topple Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government in 2003. All but one officer had been free until Friday's hearing.

The defendants face between 15 and 20 years in prison if convicted on charges of "attempting to topple the government by force."

The case marks the government's increasing confidence in confronting a military that once held sway over Turkish political life. The arrests of high-ranking military officers would once have been unimaginable.

The allegations include plans to blow up at least two major mosques during Friday prayers, assassinate some Christian and Jewish leaders, and shoot down a Turkish warplane and blame it on Greece, the country's historic rival. Prosecutors say the conspirators hoped to create chaos, which would lead to calls for a military takeover.

More than 400 people — including academics, journalists, politicians and soldiers — also are on trial on separate charges of plotting to bring down the government. That case is based on a conspiracy by an alleged gang of secular nationalists called Ergenekon.