World

Turkey dismisses thousands a year after coup attempt

July 14, 2017 4:34 pm

Turkey has dismissed more than 7,000 police, ministry staff and academics, ahead of the one-year anniversary of an attempted coup.

It comes as part of a major purge of state institutions, including the judiciary, police and education, in response to last year’s unrest.

On Saturday, Turkey marks one year since rogue soldiers bombed buildings and opened fire on civilians.

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More than 250 people were killed in the violence.

The Turkish authorities accuse a movement loyal to the Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, of organising the July 2016 plot to bring down President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr Gulen, who remains in the United States, denies any involvement. Washington has so far resisted calls from the Turkish authorities to extradite the cleric.