25 detained and 236 suspended for links to US-based cleric

ISTANBUL (AP) — Twenty-five people were detained in Turkey and more than 200 police officers temporarily suspended from their jobs Thursday for suspected links to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, following a massive sweep the day before.

Gaziantep governor’s office in southeastern Turkey announced in a statement that more than 70 raids took place to apprehend 106 Gulen operatives called “secret imams.” The detained are being held on suspicion of “membership in an armed terror organization” and “recruiting members.”

Forty-one suspects are still on the run, according to the statement. Others have already been arrested and five are abroad.

Turkey’s official news agency reported on Thursday the suspension of 236 police officers from their jobs in seven provinces. Anadolu said they were being investigated for connections and communications with the Gulen network, which Turkey deems a terror organization threatening national security.

The moves are part of a massive crackdown following last summer’s failed coup attempt, which Turkey says was orchestrated by Gulen’s movement, leading to the arrest of more than 47,000 people and the dismissal of an estimated 100,000 civil servants. Gulen has denied the accusations.

On Wednesday, 1,120 “secret imams” accused of directing followers within the police were detained nationally in simultaneous police operations in all of Turkey’s provinces. Some 9,100 police personnel were also temporarily suspended.

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