Sister of Ex-Captain Linked to 2016 Assassination Plot Arrested in Turkey

Turkish authorities have arrested Ayşe Alanur Karatepe, the sister of Burkay Karatepe, an ex-captain expelled from the military and convicted for his alleged involvement in an assassination attempt on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the 2016 coup attempt. The arrest is part of an expanded investigation following Burkay Karatepe's capture in Afyonkarahisar last week.

Ayşe Alanur Karatepe is accused of maintaining contact with her brother through organizational methods, providing financial support, and assisting him in evading capture for years. Following her brother's arrest, she reportedly traveled to Muğla, where she was apprehended in an operation on July 6. Searches of her hotel room, vehicle, and residence in Eskişehir yielded digital materials that have been confiscated for examination.

Investigators revealed that the siblings communicated using encrypted Word documents saved in the 'drafts' folder of a shared email account. These messages allegedly detailed measures for Burkay Karatepe's concealment, financial and material support, meeting plans, and preparations for new identification documents and passports. One message from Ayşe Alanur Karatepe warned her brother to "remain cautious, the jackals are waiting in ambush to find an opening."

The investigation also uncovered potential escape routes for Burkay Karatepe, with discussions of Syria, Lebanon, and Iran as possible destinations. Plans involved establishing contact through Hatay to potentially travel to Beirut, or connecting with trusted individuals for a route through Iran via Van. The correspondence also indicated preparations for fake identities and passports, including messages about obtaining biometric photos and new chip-enabled ID cards.