Turkey suspends 12,800 police officers in coup plot probe

ANKARA

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More than 12,000 police officers were suspended over their suspected links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), believed to have been orchestrated the attempted July 15 failed coup. 

In a brief statement posted on its website, the Turkish police headquarters said those suspended were allegedly “in cohesion with or connected to” the movement of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen. 

Of the 12,801 suspended from duty as part of the investigation into the coup attempt, 2,523 were police chiefs, the police headquarters said in the statement.

According to Anadolu Agency, 1,350 of those suspended in the police force were working at the Ankara police headquarters, which came under attack from the air on the night of the coup bid. 

The interior ministry also suspended 37 members of its staff over alleged links to the movement.

The move comes a day after the Cabinet extended by a further three months a state of emergency declared after the failed seizure of government.

Tens of thousands of people have been dismissed or suspended from government jobs including in the military, police, judiciary and the education ministry. Around 32,000 people allegedly connected to the failed takeover attempt have been arrested.