Turkey detains 150 soldiers in crackdown

Turkish security forces have detained 150 soldiers, coming on top of more than 100 military personnel already taken into custody this week, in the latest wave of a crackdown against people alleged to have links to a 2016 coup attempt.

According to the state-run Anadolu news agency, the soldiers are accused of having links to Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in the US and is blamed by the Turkish government for orchestrating the failed coup.

More than 6000 soldiers have been purged from the armed forces since 2016.

Last month, Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli said some 3000 people in the military are still linked to Gulen and would face repercussions.

Turkey has been under a state of emergency for almost two years. More than 130,000 people, including judges, teachers and soldiers, were fired as a result, while tens of thousands are under arrest.