Turkish raids on firms close to cleric raise fears of pre-election crackdown

Police officers frisk an employee of the Koza Ipek Group during a raid at the company's office in Ankara, Turkey, September 1, 2015. Turkish police raided the offices of the conglomerate with close links to U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, an ally-turned-foe of President Tayyip Erdogan, company officials said on Tuesday. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish police on Tuesday raided the offices of a conglomerate linked to a U.S.-based cleric accused of plotting against President Tayyip Erdogan, a move seen by critics as a bid to silence opposition media two months ahead of an election.

Erdogan, who wants the ruling AK Party to win back a majority in a snap Nov. 1 election, accuses Gulen of seeking to overthrow him by means of a "parallel structure" of supporters in the judiciary, police, the media and other institutions.