Türkiye is arrested by the mayor of Istanbul, a major competitor to President Erdogan

The city’s public prosecutor’s office said that the mayor of Istanbul, honored Imamoglu, one of the most prominent opposition politicians in Türkiye, was arrested on Wednesday morning for corruption and terrorism.

A large group of police officers arrived at the house of Mr. Imamoglu and took him away, and a number of his aides were also arrested. Prosecutors said that arrest orders were issued to more than 100 people.

Mr. Imamoglu was seen as a potential competitor in the upcoming presidential elections, to be held in 2028, although the early elections are possible. He and other opposition figures accused the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of seeking to exclude Mr. Imamoglu from politics so that he could not run in the elections, and perhaps against Mr. Erdogan himself.

In a video posted on social media before his arrest, Mr. Imamoglu accused the government of “raping the will of the people.”

“We are facing great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not be frustrated,” he said.

This is a developing story.