16 suspects linked to coup bid held in southern Turkey

By Yunus Aytekin, Mustafa Gongur

ADANA, Turkey

Sixteen people, including a mayor and district mayor, have been detained in southern Turkey in connection with a probe into the July 15 coup attempt, police sources told Anadolu Agency Tuesday.

According to police, Mustafa Cay, mayor of Pozanti district in Adana province, and his brother Nurettin Cay were detained Monday night for alleged links to the Fetullah Terror Organization or FETO.

In Mersin province, 14 people, including Deputy Mayor Mehmet Ozturk, local municipality Secretary-General Haluk Tuncsu and Executive Assistant Hudaverdi Aydogdu were taken into custody Tuesday, the same source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, added.

More than 66,000 people employed in state institutions have been dismissed from their duties so far amid a nationwide probe into the bloody coup attempt.

Turkey's government has said the deadly overthrow attempt that martyred more than 230 people and injured nearly 2,200 others was organized by followers of FETO leader Fetullah Gulen.

The U.S.-based cleric is also accused of running a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

By Yunus Aytekin, Mustafa Gongur

ADANA, Turkey

Sixteen people, including a mayor and district mayor, have been detained in southern Turkey in connection with a probe into the July 15 coup attempt, police sources told Anadolu Agency Tuesday.

According to police, Mustafa Cay, mayor of Pozanti district in Adana province, and his brother Nurettin Cay were detained Monday night for alleged links to the Fetullah Terror Organization or FETO.

More than 66,000 people employed in state institutions have been dismissed from their duties so far amid a nationwide probe into the bloody coup attempt.

Turkey's government has said the deadly overthrow attempt that martyred more than 230 people and injured nearly 2,200 others was organized by followers of FETO leader Fetullah Gulen.