Turkish state news agency Anadolu is reporting that one soldier linked to the attack on the hotel where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was vacationing during the foiled coup has been captured.
The report says the lieutenant was captured in southwestern Turkey.
He is one of nearly 30 soldiers government officials said were involved in the attack on the hotel in Marmaris resort where Erdogan was vacationing.
The attackers arrived minutes after he left the place, according to the government’s account. The officials said earlier this week that at least four remained on the run.
The manhunt for them is ongoing, with police inspecting vehicles, and showing pictures of the suspects to passengers.
Eight Turkish military personnel who fled to Greece a board a helicopter during an attempted coup in their country are testifying in court during their trial on charges of entering Greece illegally.
Turkey is seeking their return to stand trial for participation in Friday’s coup attempt. The eight deny any involvement and have applied for asylum, saying they fear for their lives if returned.
Three of the defendants testified Thursday they were helicopter pilots unaware of the coup. They said they were tasked with transporting wounded people when their choppers came under fire from police. Their unit told them not to return to base because the situation was too dangerous. After landing in a different location, they decided to flee, taking one of the aircraft across the border into Greece.
Turkish state media say a further 32 judges and two military officers have been detained by authorities during the crackdown on alleged conspirators following last week’s failed coup.
The detentions reported Thursday by Anadolu news agency come hours after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency that is expected to expand the crackdown.
Already, nearly 10,000 people have been arrested while hundreds of schools have been closed. And nearly 60,000 civil service employees have been dismissed from their posts since the failed coup Friday.
The Turkish government has laid the blame for the coup on a movement led by a U.S-based Turkish cleric.
The Turkish Parliament is meeting later to approve Erdogan’s proposed state of emergency.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier says Turkey’s state of emergency should only last as long as it’s “absolutely necessary.”
A day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency following last week’s failed coup, Steinmeier said it’s important that “the rule of law, a sense of proportion and commensurability are preserved.”
In a statement Thursday, Steinmeier said it’s in Turkey’s interest to “keep the state of emergency only for the duration that is absolutely necessary and then immediately end it.”
Erdogan, who had been accused of autocratic conduct even before this week’s tough crackdown, said the state of emergency would counter threats to Turkey.
Steinmeier said action should only be taken against those with “a provable involvement in punishable actions” and not “an alleged political attitude.”
Sourced from AP, Featured image courtesy: AP
