ANKARA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Thursday issued detention warrants for a total of 23 staff members from Ankara's Hacettepe University over their alleged links to Gulenists, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

According to the warrants issued by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, among the suspects, four are currently working at the university while the others were dismissed after last year's coup attempt.

Police launched the detention process early in the morning, and detained seven suspects in the province of Malatya, Ordu, Kony, Aksaray, Tekirdag and Bursa.

Fetullah Gulen, a U.S.-based priest, is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding the July 2016 coup attempt, which left 250 people killed and nearly 2,200 others injured.