Two retired Turkish army generals were among 24 people arrested on Tuesday in an investigation into an alleged plot to overthrow the government, adding to tensions that have paralysed political life in Ankara and undermined the financial markets.

The arrests came just hours before Turkey’s chief prosecutor went to the ­constitutional court to set out his case that the ruling ­Justice and Development party (AKP), which has its roots in political Islam, should be shut down because it is trying to impose sharia law.