News / Turkey

Turkey detains nearly 300 presidential guards after failed coup

Saturday, 23 July 2016 4:42 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 23 July 2016 4:53 AM ]

In this file photo, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas pass by the Turkish Presidential Guard Regiment soldiers in Ankara.

Turkish authorities have arrested 283 members of the presidential guard of Recep Tayyip Erdogan over alleged affiliation to the last week's failed coup.

Security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspects were part of the special forces regiment stationed at the presidential palace in capital, Ankara.

The sources added that the suspects will be taken to the Palace of Justice in Ankara after a police inquiry is conducted.

Meanwhile, an unnamed Turkish government official said 10,856 passports, including close to 10,000 green/grey ones, had been cancelled “due to flight risk,” either because the holders are in custody or on the run.

Green passport holders include civil servants as well as former legislators, who can travel to some countries visa-free. Grey passports are issued to those working on government business as well as members of sports delegations.

In this file photo, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim speaks to reporters in the capital, Ankara. ©Anadolu news agency

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim vowed on Friday to adopt more measures against potential “threats” in the face of the July 15 botched putsch.

Yildirim said the danger from the attempted coup remains, but the government is trying to keep it at bay. He also assured Turkish citizens that security and safety have been ensured across the country.

“Our priority is to ensure the peace and safety of people at all places, dismiss all their concerns and control state institutions thoroughly,” the premier pointed out.

Erdogan said on Thursday 10,410 people had so far been detained with 4,060 of them remanded in custody, including more than 100 generals and admirals.

He further noted that the death toll from the failed coup attempt had risen to 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and that 2,185 people had sustained injuries.

Turkish officials have launched a large-scale crackdown following the July 15 attempted coup d’état. A three-month state of emergency has also been declared in Turkey.

Turkey’s Ministry of National Education announced in a statement last Tuesday that it had dismissed 15,200 of its employees from their jobs over their alleged involvement in the putsch.

The Turkish public broadcaster TRT also reported that the country's High Education Board had ordered the resignation of 1,577 deans, including 1,176 in public universities and 401 in private institutions.

Sources in Turkey’s Interior Ministry said on Monday that a total of 8,777 Interior Ministry officials had been suspended since July 16.

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