Turkey’s deputy prime minister has described as “the tip of the iceberg” the infiltration of state institutions by the group the government blames for last Friday’s failed coup.

Nurettin Canikli told the BBC that the number of arrests could grow.

At least 60,000 state employees have been detained or suspended in an internationally criticised purge.

But Mr Canikli criticised Turkey’s allies for “only half-heartedly” condemning the “coup-makers”.

The government accuses those loyal to the US-based exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen of orchestrating the coup. Mr Gulen has denied any involvement.

“For 40 years this terror organisation has infiltrated the furthest corners of the country – ministries, all institutions and the private sector,” Mr Canikli said.

“It’s not just the judiciary, courts, the police, the military. It includes education.

And in fact, education is the field that they have entered best," he said.
Education ministry officials, private school teachers and university heads of faculty together account for more than half the people targeted in the crackdown.