ANKARA: Turkey’s anti-terrorism police have detained over 88 people for alleged links to the Gülen group, which is accused of masterminding a coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
According to the pro-gov’t Yeni Şafak daily, as part of an investigation based in the İzmir province, simultaneous raids were conducted on Wednesday morning to detain 22 ‘Gülenists’.
In an Adiyaman-based operation, police detained 20 people including former police officers in eight provinces.
In a central Kirsehir-based operation conducted across five provinces, as well as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, police detained nine on-duty soldiers.
Later the same day, at least 15 suspects were detained in 10 difference provinces after Bursa’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued warrants for 22 on-duty soldiers.
In a central Aksaray-based operation conducted across 10 provinces, nine others were detained by police. Among the suspects were teachers, engineers and tax inspectors.
in eastern Kars province, six on-duty police personnel were detained for their links to the group.
Turkey survived a military coup attempt on July 15 that killed over 240 people and wounded more than a thousand others. Immediately after the putsch, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government along with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pinned the blame on the Gülen movement.