26,000 arrested in Turkey's post-coup bid probe

By Hatice Ozdemir

ANKARA

Close to 26,000 people have been arrested in Turkey during investigations into the July 15 coup attempt, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said Wednesday.

Ala told journalists at the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s head office that 25,917 were detained, of which 13,419 have been remanded in custody awaiting trial.

The minister said the passports of 74,562 people had been cancelled.

He gave the casualty figures as 238 killed and 2,917 injured in the attempted military takeover.

Those arrested, as well as tens of thousands of public sector workers who have been suspended from their jobs, are suspected of links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization said to be behind the coup.