9,000 police officers suspended in Turkey over links with US-based cleric

Turkish authorities have reportedly suspended no less than 9,000 police officers over links with US-based cleric Fethulah Gulen.

The suspension of the police officers follows arrests targeting alleged network of Gulen whom Turkey blamed for last year’s failed coup attempt.

Reacting to the development, Suleyman Soylu, Interior Minister described the arrests as an “important step” towards the government’s aim at “bringing down” the Gulen movement.

The operation was launched in all of Turkey’s 81 provinces and targeted the network’s structure in the police force.

More than 47,000 people have been arrested since the last failed coup in July last year, Turkey’s interior minister said, including some 10,700 police officers and 7,400 military personnel, and sacked or suspended 120,000 others from a wide range of professions including soldiers, police, teachers and public servants, over alleged links with what Turkey’s government deems to be terrorist groups.

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