Turkey: More than 160 martyred in coup attempt
Prime minister says close to 3,000 troops involved in attempt to overthrow government
People gather to react against military coup attempt, in Ankara, Turkey on July 16, 2016. ( Fatih Kurt - Anadolu Agency )
ANKARA
The attempted coup in Turkey saw 161 people martyred and 1,440 injured, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Saturday.
Speaking in the Turkish capital Ankara, Yildirim said 2,839 military personnel involved in the “vile attempt” had been arrested. Some were senior officers, he added.
He also said 20 pro-coup soldiers had been killed in Friday night’s attempt to overthrow the government.
According to the Interior Ministry, 1,563 military personnel were arrested across Turkey on Saturday and a number of officers were suspended from duty, including five generals and 29 colonels.
Yildirim said the defeat of Friday’s coup was a “feast of our democracy” and sent his condolences to the relatives who lost their lives during coup attempt.
He was speaking alongside Interior Minister Efkan Ala, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, Defense Minister Fikri Isik and Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag.
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