Turkey coup leaves 232 dead
Up to 7,500 held by the authorities, including former air force chief
TURKEY’S prime minister has said 232 individuals were killed during the failed coup attempt.
Binali Yildirim said the toll comprised “208 martyrs” – in reference to government supporters – and 24 coup plotters.
With a cracked voice and tears, he repeated a question his grandson had put to him: “Why are they killing people?”
He said the pro-government victims were 145 civilians, 60 police officers and three soldiers.
The PM also said 50 coup backers and 1,491 government supporters were injured in the unrest. He put the total numbers of detentions since Friday’s tumultuous night at 7,543, including 6,030 military.
According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, among those being questioned by prosecutors were 27 generals and admirals.
They include former air force commander General Akin Ozturk, who has been described as the ringleader of the uprising. Mr Ozturk has denied he was involved, insisting he worked to quell the uprising.
Meanwhile, warplanes were continuing to patrol Turkey’s skies yesterday, in a sign that authorities feared the threat against the government is not yet over.
A senior official said F-16 jets guarded Turkish airspace overnight, action ordered by president Recep Tayyip Erdogan “for the control of the airspace and security”.
The coup plotters sent warplanes firing on key government installations and tanks rolling into major cities, but the rebellion – which was not supported by the military’s top brass – was quashed by loyal government forces and masses of civilians who took to the streets.
The interior ministry sacked close to 9,000 personnel across the country following the coup attempt.
Anadolu said 8,777 employees attached to the ministry were dismissed, including 30 governors, 52 civil service inspectors and 16 legal advisers. Other media reports said police and military police officers and coastguards were also removed from duty.
The government alleges the coup conspirators were loyal to moderate US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Mr Erdogan has often accused of trying to overthrow the government.
Mr Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, espouses a philosophy which blends a mystical form of Islam with democracy. He is a former Erdogan ally turned bitter enemy who has been put on trial in his absence in Turkey, where the government has labelled his movement a terrorist organisation. He strongly denies the government’s charges.
United States secretary of state John Kerry said the US would entertain an extradition request for Mr Gulen, but Turkey would have to present “legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny”. So far, officials have not offered evidence he was involved.
Meanwhile, the European Union and the US expressed alarm at Turkey’s response to the failed coup, insisting the country must uphold democracy and human rights as it pursues those behind the plot.
At a joint news conference with Mr Kerry, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the incident “is no excuse to take the country away from fundamental rights and the rule of law, and we will be extremely vigilant on that”.