Turkey orders arrest of 125 police officers

Warrants were issued on Tuesday to arrest 125 police officers suspected of having ties with Islamic preacher Fetullah Gulen, who was accused by the Turkish government of being the mastermind of the country's failed attempted coup in July.

The officers, including 30 deputy divisional chiefs, are accused of using ByLock, an encrypted messaging app that is supposedly developed by the Gulen movement, to allow members to communicate securely, EFE news reported.

On October 7, arrest warrants against 166 police officers were issued for the same reason.

On October 4, 12,801 officers were suspended for their alleged membership in the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation.

Since the failed attempted coup, tens of thousands of soldiers, police officers, judges, teachers and university professors have been suspended or arrested for alleged ties to Gulen.

--IANS

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