ISTANBUL, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces have detained 31 former military personnel, including a former colonel, for their suspected links to a failed coup in 2016, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
The suspects were captured in parallel operations launched in 16 provinces spearheaded by prosecutors from the western city of Izmir, according to the report.
The arrested military personnel were suspected members of a movement headed by the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen accused by Ankara of being behind the coup in July 2016, the prosecutors stated.
Izmir Attorney General's office also issued arrest warrants for 16 former military school students who are still on the run.
Since the 2016 coup that led to the killing of 250 people, the Turkish government has been hunting members of the Gulen movement. ■