Turkey suspends more than 12,000 police officers; TV channel raided

ANKARA: Turkey on Tuesday suspended more than 12,000 police officers over alleged links to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of masterminding the failed July

ANKARA: Turkey on Tuesday suspended more than 12,000 police officers over alleged links to Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused of masterminding the failed July coup, in the latest move under a controversial state of emergency.

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A prominent pro-Kurdish television channel was raided and broadcasts cut under the emergency laws, over accusations of supporting Kurdish militants. Turkish police raided the offices of broadcaster IMC TV while it was live on air.

A few days after the coup bid that left more than 250 people dead, a three-month state of emergency was enforced. It was later extended for a further 90 days from October 19.

A Turkish official, who did not wish to be named, confirmed the suspension, adding that the individuals would continue to be paid two-thirds of their salary “pending further investigation”.

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 a statement.

In total, Turkey has suspended around 270,000 police officers. The action was taken over suspected links to the Gulen movement which Turkey blames for the failed putsch on July 15 which tried to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from power.

Gulen, an ally-turned-foe of Erdogan who has lived in self-imposed exile in the US since 1999, strongly denies Ankara’s accusations. Supporters of the Gulen movement say it is a loose grouping of individuals committed to peace.