Turkey detains Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu

Turkish police on Wednesday detained Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after raiding his home, a press aide told AFP.

Authorities had not said anything about the raid but local media reports said it was linked to a corruption inquiry.

Imamoglu "was detained and is now at police headquarters", said the aide, who did not have permission to speak to the media so asked not to be identified by name. 

"Hundreds of police officers have arrived at my door. I entrust myself to the people," Imamoglu posted in a video on X. 

"The police are raiding my home, knocking on my door... I trust my nation," he said. 

His office could not immediately say why he was detained. 

His detention came a day afer a Turkish university revoked the university degree of Imamoglu, on grounds it was falsely obtained.

The ruling could hurt Imamoglu's plans to challenge Erdogan in elections set for 2028, coming just days before he was to be formally named the candidate of the main opposition party CHP for the race.