Turkish Prosecution Orders to Detain 73 Military Pilots Over Alleged Gulen Links

The Turkish Prosecutor's Office authorized the detention of 73 military pilots suspected of having links with the movement of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen who is believed by Ankara to be the mastermind behind a recent failed coup attempt, local media reported on Thursday.

ANKARA (Sputnik) — The operation in carried out across the country in 17 provinces of Turkey, according to Anadolu news agency. The media added that 71 out of 73 pilots to be detained had rank of first lieutenant.

On July 15, a military coup attempt took place in Turkey. Over 240 people were killed during the coup attempt and an estimated 2,000 were wounded. Ankara has accused dissident Muslim cleric Gulen, who has been living in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his followers of playing a key role in the coup.

According to the Turkish Justice Ministry, a total of 32,000 military officers, high-ranking civil servants, judges and teachers suspected of being Gulen supporters have been arrested in Turkey after the failed coup attempt.