Arrest Campaigns against Coup Suspects Ongoing – Erdogan

Istanbul, 13 Syawal 1437/18 July 2016 (MINA) – The President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that raid and arrest campaigns by security forces are ongoing in a number of Turkish cities against suspects of last Friday’s failed military coup attempt.

Police forces were able, through a tip by Turkish intelligence, to arrest a group of rebels who transported arms and ammunition via shipping containers to Istanbul, Erdogan said in an address to a crowd gathered outside his Istanbul residence in the Kisikli neighborhood.

He also pointed out the success of the security operation carried out earlier by the police at the third airbase in the state of Konya, central Turkey, indicating, however, that the main result desired from these arrest campaigns is yet to be accomplished.

The Turkish President also urged the crowd to continue gathering at arenas and squares in order to block the rebels from achieving their goals, and prevent reoccurrence of such coups.

According to security sources, the number of people arrested following last Friday’s failed military coup attempt has exceeded 2,400, Anadolu news agency reported earlier.

The number of suspects involved in the attempted coup is rising significantly in Istanbul, including several civilians, military, and security men, sources indicated.

Over 100 rebels and up to 190 citizens were killed, 6,000 insurgents were detained and more than 1,400 people were wounded in the failed coup. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)