ISTANBUL: Turkish police detained Istanbul's powerful mayor Ekrem Imamoglu early on Wednesday as part of a corruption probe. Türkiye's justice minister on Wednesday said police had detained Istanbul's popular opposition Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in connection wtih two separate probes, including "helping a terror group". Imamoglu was one of seven people under investigation for "helping a terror group," said minister Yilmaz Tunc.
Widely seen as the strongest challenger to Erdogan, Imamoglu has faced a string of what critics say are politically motivated legal cases. As reports of his detention emerged, Türkiye briefly shut down access to social networks and hundreds of police surrounded City Hall and closed off Taksim Square, with the authorities banning all demonstrations for the next four days.
The move appeared to be in connection with a probe into alleged "tender rigging" by Imamoglu that was opened in 2023. But local reports, including from state news agency Anadolu, said it was also linked to a separate probe for allegedly aiding the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), saying he was one of seven people detained. — AFP
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