A police investigation in Belgium has shown that at least one threatening social media message received by Turkish journalists Mete Öztürk and R.D. in July and September 2016 was sent from a computer at the Turkish Embassy in Brussels, the Brussels-based Het Laatste Nieuws reported on Friday.
Another intimidating message was sent by a former press officer at the embassy, the newspaper said. “We are working to find out about your lairs!” the press officer allegedly told R.D. via social media back in 2016.
“All traitors face the same fate as the coup plotters,” said one of the messages sent to Öztürk, the former editor of the Turkish daily Zaman’s Dutch edition.
The Turkish government shuttered Zaman over its links to the faith-based Gülen movement, which is accused by Turkish authorities of orchestrating a failed coup in Turkey on July 15, 2016. The movement denies any involvement. (Turkey Purge)