Turkish police hold 80 Gülen supporters in raids

As many as 80 people were detained across seven provinces for alleged links to the terrorist organization, led by US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gülen.

Police officers and businessmen are among those held in a crackdown on supporters of Gülen, who was put on Turkey's the most-wanted terrorists list.

Chief Prosecutor's office in Kocaeli issued arrest warrants for a total of 88 people. Eight are still beıng sought by the police.

Police searches of suspects' properties are still underway.

The government has accused Gülen of forming and running a terrorist organisation in Turkey. Officers and high-level burecrauts held so far in the raids against Gulen's supporters are suspected of acting beyond their authority.

Thirty-six people in custody at Istanbul police headquarters on suspicion of funding Gülen's terrorist organization are still to be questioned, police say.

Detainees, including company and association managers, were seized in simultaneous raids ordered by the Anatolia Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The raids were conducted across Istanbul, Konya and Kırklareli provinces.

They are accused of using millions of loans taken out from banks to fund the organization's illegal activities.

Experts at the Financial Crime Investigation Board (MASAK) said in a report that executives working in the companies close to Gülen's shadowy group have collected 7 billion euro under cover of building a new school in Cairo, but the executives themselves spent 3 billion euro of this fund.