Turkey’s interior min says more than 15000 detained over failed coup

The government has said the deadly coup attempt was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen.

Turkey went through a deadly coup attempt on July 15 when rogue elements of the military tried to overthrow the country’s democratically elected government.

Officials have repeatedly said this is only the beginning of the purge, with over 60,000 people either among the detained or sacked for suspected ties to exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Two top Turkish Land Forces commanders requested early retirement just ahead of Thursday’s Supreme Military Council (YAS) meeting, a military source said.

The crackdown on media comes on the heels of tens of thousands of suspensions, dismissals and detainments in the country following the failed coup.

Dozens of journalists have been detained, with arrest warrants issued for many more.

The detention of journalists and widescale purges of officials have raised concerns about a possible witch hunt after the violent coup attempt on July 15 that killed about 290 people.

For the first time, the meeting is taking place in Ankara at the Cankaya palace of the prime minister instead of the military headquarters.

The Turkish Coast Guard and Gendarmerie General Command have also been brought under Interior Ministry control.

The Turkish government has dismissed more than 1,223 officers from the army, including 130 generals, since the failed coup attempt.