47,155 arrested in Gülen probe since coup attempt: Turkish Interior minister

Turkey has arrested a total of 47,155 people accused of having links to the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), widely believed to have been behind the July 2016 coup attempt, the Turkish Interior Minister said April 2.

Speaking to a local television channel in the Black Sea province of Trabzon, Süleyman Soylu said the nationwide FETÖ probe saw 113,260 detentions since the attempted takeover.      

According to the government, FETÖ and its leader, the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, had orchestrated the coup attempt, which left 249 people killed and nearly 2,200 injured.      

"Among the arrested are 10,732 police officers, 7,643 soldiers, and 168 generals. Some 2,575 are judges and prosecutors. Some 26,177 are civilians and 208 are local administrators,” Soylu said.      

He said 863 other suspects remained at large.

He added that 23,861 were freed, while 41,499 others were released under supervision.

Ankara says FETÖ is behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.      

In wake of the coup attempt, tens of thousands of people with alleged links to the movement have been detained, including many in the armed forces, police, judiciary, education and business sectors.