Over 1,200 Turkish gendarmerie staff axed since coup bid

ANKARA

Turkey's Interior Ministry said on Thursday over 1,200 people from the country’s gendarmerie had been dismissed over links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and parallel state.

A ministry statement confirmed that 419 commissioned officers, 604 noncommissioned officers, 158 sergeants, 28 privates first class and nine other officials had been removed since July 15.

Led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, FETO is accused of orchestrating Turkey’s July 15 coup plot as well as being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

The defeated July 15 coup left 246 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.