Police detain 28 in raids on Gülenists in Turkey

ISTANBUL

Turkish police detained 28 people over links to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gülen in multiple raids across the country, while the search continued for 23 others, including Rızanur Meral, the head of the major business group the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON).

In the latest crackdown, police carried out simultaneous raids in several cities including Istanbul as well as Konya and Kayseri in Central Anatolia, according to Doğan News Agency.

Among other charges, the suspects were accused of being membership of a terrorist organization, daily Hürriyet reported on its website.

Founded in 2005, TUSKON has 55,000 members.

Ankara accuses Gülen of plotting to overthrow the Turkish government and running a “terror” group.

The latest arrests came months after some 100 Gülen supporters were detained in similar raids in April.