Turkey detains

Turkey detains 1,000 in anti-Gulen crackdown

ISTANBUL: Turkey on Wednesday detained over 1,000 alleged supporters of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, the biggest crackdown since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's victory in a referendum on ramping up his powers, reports AFP.
The dawn raids across the country came just a week after Erdogan narrowly won public blessing for the controversial changes to the constitution to create a presidential system.
They are the latest indication Turkey intends no let-up in the fight against its perceived enemies after the referendum, with fighter jets Tuesday pounding Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and northern Syria.
A total of 1,009 suspects have so far been detained in raids in 72 provinces across the country, the official Anadolu news agency quoted Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu as saying.
Turkish authorities blame Gulen for masterminding the July failed military coup that aimed to oust Erdogan from power but he denies the charges.
Some 8,500 police officers were involved in the nationwide operation, Anadolu reported, adding that arrest warrants had been issued for 390 suspects in Istanbul alone.
Indicating that the numbers detained were set to rise, Soylu said the raids were continuing.
"It is an important step for the Turkish Republic," he added.
The 'Yes' camp won 51.41 percent of the vote in the April 16 referendum but opponents claim the result would have been reversed in a fair poll.

Turkey detains

Turkey detains 1,000 in anti-Gulen crackdown

ISTANBUL: Turkey on Wednesday detained over 1,000 alleged supporters of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, the biggest crackdown since President Recep Tayyip Erdogans victory in a referendum on ramping up his powers, reports AFP. The dawn raids across the country came just a week after Erdogan narrowly won public blessing for the controversial changes to the constitution to create a presidential system. They are the latest indication Turkey intends no let-up in the fight against its perceived enemies after the referendum, with fighter jets Tuesday pounding Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and northern Syria. A total of 1,009 suspects have so far been detained in raids in 72 provinces across the country, the official Anadolu news agency quoted Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu as saying. Turkish authorities blame Gulen for masterminding the July failed military coup that aimed to oust Erdogan from power but he denies the charges. Some 8,500 police officers were involved in the nationwide operation, Anadolu reported, adding that arrest warrants had been issued for 390 suspects in Istanbul alone. Indicating that the numbers detained were set to rise, Soylu said the raids were continuing. It is an important step for the Turkish Republic, he added. The Yes camp won 51.41 percent of the vote in the April 16 referendum but opponents claim the result would have been reversed in a fair poll.