Turkish police on Tuesday said 104 people were detained over their alleged links to a network believed to be behind a coup attempt in 2016, the state-run Anadolu agency reported.

Police launched wide-scale operations to capture the suspects, including soldiers on active duty and former police officers, on the orders of the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Izmir, the report said.

All those targeted in the operations have alleged connections with the network headed by the U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, it said.

Meanwhile, Turkish authorities have started an expulsion process for a total of 848 military personnel, including high-ranking officers, who are believed to be affiliated with the group, the report added.

The Turkish government blames Gulen and his network for masterminding the coup bid in July 2016, in which 250 people were killed.

NAN