ANKARA, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish Interior Ministry has suspended 1,218 gendarmerie personnel from their posts over suspected links to alleged plotters of the July 15 coup attempt, local media reported on Thursday.

The suspended personnel included 419 officers and 604 sergeants, local NTV reported.

The Turkish government accuses Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based preacher, of masterminding the failed coup, which left at least 241 people dead and over 2,000 others injured.