Turkey: More than 5,600 remanded over failed coup

By Hatice Ozdemir

ANKARA (AA) – More than 5,600 suspects allegedly linked to the July 15 failed coup have been remanded in custody so far, according to figures compiled by Anadolu Agency.

According to latest judicial figures, 5,613 suspects out of 12,652 detainees have been charged with having links to the bloody coup attempt which claimed hundreds of lives.

Almost 300 police officers, 3,649 soldiers, 1,559 judicial members, 20 administrative chiefs and 93 other people were referred to court after police questioning.

Turkey's government has repeatedly said the deadly coup attempt on July 15 – which claimed over 246 lives – 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’.

* Anadolu Agency correspondent Hatice Kesgin contributed to this report from Ankara.