TURKEY COUP CRUSHED
PLOTTERS WARNED
Thousands of soldiers were arrested yesterday as the Turkish government promised vengeance against all involved in the military coup foiled by a bloody popular uprising
Turkey’s president yesterday arrested thousands of soldiers and sacked almost 3000 judges as he promised brutal retribution for the failed military coup.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan rooted out officials believed to be loyal to an exiled cleric he believes was the mastermind behind the violent bid to overthrow him.
Hundreds of soldiers and civilians were killed and injured in the violence as mobs confronted rebels trying to take control.
Some troops were beheaded in the street while others killed themselves rather than be taken alive after the military tried to remove Erdogan.
Their coup was crushed when ordinary Turks stood up against heavily-armed soldiers. Some lay in front of tanks to thwart their efforts.
At least 265 people were killed, including 104 plotters and 41 police officers. Around 1440 people were injured.
The country last night remained on the brink of civil war amid warnings from Erdogan that a further uprising could happen at any time.
As the attempt to overthrow him began, Erdogan spoke out from the resort of Marmaris urging supporters to take to the streets and oppose the military.
He flew back to Ankara and later added: “What is being perpetrated is treason and a rebellion. They will pay a heavy price.”
The Turkish government sacked 2745 judges seen as loyal to exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in the US.
Erdogan has repeatedly accused him of attempting to spark an uprising within Turkey’s military, judicial system and media.
Gulen, who’s based in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, denied he was involved in the attempted takeover.
Gulen said in a statement: “As someone who suffered under multiple military coups during the past five decades, it is especially insulting to be accused of having any link to such an attempt. I categorically deny such accusations.”
Erdogan’s crackdown against alleged opponents began with the detention of 10 members of the country’s highest court.
Some 2839 soldiers, including high- ranking off icers, have also been arrested, the country’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.
He added the coup attempt was a “black stain on Turkish democracy”.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said he would consider a Turkish request to extradite Gulen.
He said Turkey would have to provide evidence he was behind the attempt to overthrow the government.
The dramatic events began on Friday evening as tanks took up positions on two of the bridges over the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, blocking traffic.
Troops were seen on the streets and low-flying military jets were spotted over the capital Ankara.
During the violence, the Turkish parliament and presidential buildings in Ankara were attacked.
At least one bomb hit the parliament complex. MPs were believed to be hiding in shelters.
Gunfire was also heard outside Istanbul police headquarters and tanks were said to be stationed outside Istanbul airport.
There were reports of fierce clashes in Taksim Square in central Istanbul and gunf ire and explosions were heard near the square.
One of the helicopters being flown by rebels was reportedly shot down by government troops in Ankara.
An army faction issued a statement that a “peace council” were running the country and they had launched a coup “to ensure and restore constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms”.
Explosions and gunfire were heard in Ankara, Istanbul and Marmaris overnight and thousands of Turks heeded Erdogan’s call to rise up against the coup-plotters.
The countr y is divided over
Erdogan’s plans for reform and has also been hit by the spread of violence from the war in neighbouring Syria.
Experts said the country has faced increasing turmoil, with the failed coup unlikely to be the end of it.
The Bosphorus bridge was reopened to traffic early yesterday.
Eight military personnel involved in the coup yesterday fled to Greece by helicopter where they sought political asylum.
Greece says it is considering Turkey’s request for their extradition.
Reports stated 200 unarmed soldiers left Turkey’s military HQ in Ankara and surrendered to police.
Dramatic images showed dozens of soldiers walking away from their tanks with their hands up on one of Istanbul’s Bosphorus bridges.
At an emergency parliamentary session, Yildirim said of the plotters: “These are not soldiers – they are ravenous terrorist butchers in uniforms”.
Hundreds of Turks with f lags gathered outside parliament in Ankara to protest the coup attempt.
Yildirim last night said the situation is now “completely under control”.
But defence minister Fikri Isik warned that authorities must remain vigilant. He said: “At any time there could be new tests, new attempts. We have prevented the coup but it is too soon to say that the danger is over.”
US President Barack Obama urged all people in Turkey to support the “democratically elected government”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was “tragic so many people paid for this coup attempt with their lives”.
Nato, of which Turkey is a member, cal led for “ful l respect” for the country’s democratic institutions.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “We remain very concerned about what’s been going on in Turkey. We want to urge calm, the avoidance of any further bloodshed, and it’s crucial that we suppor t the democratic institutions of Turkey.”
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said: “We applaud the Turkish people who bravely united to stand up for democracy.”