Turkey detains 1,563 army personnel over coup attempt

ISTANBUL 

At least 1,563 army personnel were detained across Turkey on Saturday after a coup attempt, according to the Interior Ministry.

The ministry also suspended several parallel state military personnel including 5 generals and 29 colonels.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier announced that a group within the Turkish military attempted an overthrow of the government.

In the moments after the attempted coup was launched Friday night, Erdogan urged Turks in a televised message to “go to squares, let us give them the best answer.”

Arriving in Istanbul hours later, the president said he would not leave Ataturk Airport until the situation in the country returns to normal.

“Turkish Airlines began its operations. There is a small distress in Ankara,” Erdogan told a large crowd gathered at the airport.

“There is no leaving here until this situation goes back to normal. I will not leave, too,” he said.

Erdogan slammed United States-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of leading a terrorist organization and attempting to infiltrate and overthrow the democratically-elected government.

“It is enough the betrayal you have done to this nation,” Erdogan said, without mentioning Gulen’s name, and calling on him to return to Turkey to face trial.

At least 90 people were martyred and more than 1,000 others injured during the coup attempt.