Turkish police raid opposition TV station, halt live broadcast

Halk TV says its staff cannot enter the Istanbul building and a new manager has been appointed to run the channel.

Turkish police raided the headquarters of a pro-opposition TV channel and stopped its live broadcast.

Hulk TV said its employees were unable to enter the Istanbul building on Wednesday morning and a new manager has been appointed to run the channel.

Reports in Turkish media indicate that financial crimes police are searching the building and 17 arrest warrants have been issued for the channel's owner.

Many in this country consider Hulk TV close to the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). He often criticizes the ruling Justice and Development Party headed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In May, a Turkish court removed the CHP leadership from running the party, in a legal move that the opposition says further entrenches Erdogan's grip on power.

Meanwhile, Ekram Imamoglu, the popular mayor of Istanbul who is widely seen as Erdogan's biggest political rival, has been in prison for more than a year on corruption charges. He denies all the charges.