Former Istanbul governor detained over failed coup

By Arif Yakici, Halil Demir

ISTANBUL

Former Istanbul governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu has been detained as part of the investigation into July 15 attempted coup, a police source told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.

Following his detention, the police are searching Mutlu’s house, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking with the media.

Mutlu served as governor of the Istanbul province between 2010 and 2014, after which he took a post with the Interior Ministry as a civilian authority. After the failed coup, he was one of 246 such authorities suspended.

As part of the probe into the coup attempt, a total of 13,165 suspects have been taken into custody, including 1,485 police officers, more than 8,838 soldiers, 2,101 judicial members, 52 district governors, and 689 civilians.

5,863 suspects out of 13,165 detainees – including 123 generals, 282 high-ranking police officers, and 1,559 judicial members – have been charged with having links to the coup attempt.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly plot, which martyred at least 246 people and injured more than 2,100 others, was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.

Gulen is also accused of 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.

*Ahmet Sait Akcay contributed to this story from Ankara.