14 senior officers held for alleged ties to 'parallel state'

Fourteen people were detained across eight provinces as part of the ongoing investigation into the “parallel state," it was reported.

The latest in a string of operations targeting the parallel state was conducted by the Kocaeli police department on Tuesday. The raids were launched across eight provinces in line with the investigation, which has gradually expanded.

Police were seeking police officers said to have connections with the 'parallel state,' led by US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gülen. The cleric is wanted on terror charges in Turkey.

The suspects include 1st degree police chiefs, 2nd degree police chiefs, the heads of several divisions and police chiefs, said the police sources. The raids are expected to continue.

Neither the Kocaeli police department nor the chief public prosecutor's office have released an offfical statement yet.