 According to Turkish investigative journalist Ahmet Şık, a list of officials to be purged had been ready compiled by the attorney-general of Izmir, Okan Bato, and was approved by President Erdoğan.According to this version, the putschists had to quickly bring forward their coup attempt, before they would be disposed and arrested.During and after the events, several politicians and commentators suggested that the government knew about the coup in advance and possibly directed it.