Turkey detains Istanbul mayor in corruption probe

Turkish authorities have detained President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief political rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, as part of an investigation into corruption and terror links, DW said, citing media reports.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said prosecutors also issued warrants for around 100 other people, including businessmen and journalists. 

Imamoglu was detained early Wednesday and taken to police headquarters, his aide was cited by the French AFP and German DPA news agencies as saying.

Local broadcasters reported that police raided his Istanbul home at dawn as part of a probe.

Authorities have banned demonstrations in Istanbul for four days in an apparent effort to prevent protests following the arrest. The Netblocks internet observatory said early Wednesday that Turkey had also restricted access to multiple social media platforms.

Imamoglu's detention comes a day after Istanbul University announced it was revoking his university diploma over irregularities — dealing a major blow to his ambition to run for president in the country's next election.

To run for president, a candidate must have a university degree. 

The university said it was declaring the graduations and degrees of 28 people, including Imamoglu, as being "void" because of "obvious error."