Istanbul’s former top cop, others detained in anti-coup probe

istanbul — Turkey detained a former police chief, several governors and nine journalists on Tuesday as part of the probe into the movement allegedly behind last month’s abortive coup, according to state media.

The Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s office issued a detention order for former Istanbul police chief Huseyin Capkin, an unnamed governor and two district governors, after new evidence surfaced in its investigation into the finances of the movement led by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

270 people had died in the violent coup attempt

The Anadolu news agency says Capkin was detained in the western city of Izmir. Ankara alleges Gulen was responsible for the violent July 15 coup attempt that left over 270 people dead. The cleric himself denies any involvement. Eight governors, including former Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu, one deputy governor and three district governors had been put under arrest earlier this month as part of the coup probe.

Nine journalists, meanwhile, were detained on Tuesday in police operations in Istanbul, Ankara and the northwestern province of Kocaeli, according to Anadolu.

The operations came after the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office issued detention orders on Tuesday for 35 journalists with alleged ties to the Gulen movement. —