lans to assassinate Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew and Turkish Jewish businessman Ishak Alaton were found on a computer belonging to Bekir Öztürk, head of the National Forces Association (Kuvva-i Milliye).
 
According to the Gazeteport Internet news portal, the ultra-nationalist organization could have carried out these plans during the presidential election if either Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan or another Justice and Development Party (AK Party) member were to have been elected president.
 
The report said the assassination plans found on Öztürk's computer were part of the ongoing Ümraniye investigation. It was noted that the public prosecutor's office has demanded an increase in security measures from the Security General Directorate to protect Mutafyan, Bartholomew and Alaton.

After finding 27 hand grenades and other explosives in a slum house in the Ümraniye district of Istanbul, the security forces went on to raid Kuvva-i Milliye offices in Ankara, Konya, Bursa and Balikesir over the past week. A total of five people, including Öztürk, have now been arrested in connection with the investigation.

TODAY'S ZAMAN
relayed by Jean Eckian