27 July 2016•Update: 27 July 2016
MUGLA, Turkey
Gendarmes have seized a large cache of weapons in southwestern Turkey, which is suspected of being used by pro-coup troops who stormed Turkish president’s hotel during the July 15 coup attempt, according to a security source Wednesday.
According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking with the media, the weapons included infantry rifles, grenade launchers, handguns, thousands of cartridges for long-barreled weapons, grenades, helmets, body armor and night-vision gear near the hotel.
In an earlier operation on Monday, three more soldiers were detained linked to the attack. So far, 19 soldiers have been remanded into custody for their alleged links to the Marmaris hotel attack on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
An operation remains ongoing to nab the remaining 10 helicopter-borne soldiers who attacked the hotel on the night of July 15, a short time after Erdogan had left the area for Istanbul after being alerted to the coup attempt.
Two police officers were killed in the ensuing gunbattle and seven others were injured.
In the deadly coup attempt, at least 246 people were martyred and over 2,100 injured.
Turkey's government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as a parallel state.
(Reporting by Sinan Ozmüs, Sabri Kesen; Writing by Burcu Arik)
