6,000 alleged coup plotters arrested across Turkey

ISTANBUL

At least 6,000 people have been arrested across Turkey over alleged ties to Friday’s coup attempt, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said Sunday.

The government previously said around 3,000 military personnel had been arrested and last night a senior prosecutor ordered the arrest of nearly 2,750 judges accused of links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization alleged to be behind the coup.

“The legal process will continue,” Bozdag said on state-run broadcaster TRT. “This will be the most extensive case ever seen in Turkey’s history.”

He promised that those involved in the failed coup would “pay the price”.

The attempted takeover is said to have been organized by followers of U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-standing campaign to overthrow the government through supporters within the Turkish state, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

Bozdag repeated President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call for the U.S. to extradite Gulen.

“Protecting [Gulen] will weaken the U.S.’s position and damage its reputation,” he said. “I presume the U.S. will not back someone who carried out these acts against Turkey.”

The coup saw 181 people killed around the country.