July 16, 2016•Update: July 16, 2016
By Ilhan Toprak
MUGLA, Turkey
Pro-coup soldiers, who tried to attack the hotel which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan left hours earlier, have escaped from the region, sources said on Saturday.
Erdogan was staying at Grand Yazici Marmaris Hotel in Turkey’s Aegean province of Mugla.
Sources who requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to press said the hotel was attacked with heavy weapons from land and helicopters after the midnight on Friday night.
The soldiers managed to escape after clashes with Turkish police until the morning. At least 1,563 army personnel were detained across Turkey on Saturday after a coup attempt, according to the Interior Ministry.
The ministry also suspended several parallel state military personnel including five generals and 29 colonels.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier announced that a group within the Turkish military attempted to overthrow of the government.
In the moments after the attempted coup was launched Friday night, Erdogan urged Turks in a televised message to “go to squares” and “give the best answer” to those who attempted the coup.
Arriving in Istanbul hours later, Erdogan said he would not leave Ataturk Airport until the situation in the country returns to normal.
Erdogan told a large crowd gathered at the airport that Turkish Arlines had resumed its flights and that there was a small distress in Ankara.
“There is no leaving here until this situation goes back to normal. I will not leave, too,” he said.
Erdogan slammed United States-based preacher Fetullah Gulen, who is accused of leading a terrorist organization and attempting to infiltrate and overthrow the democratically-elected government.
“The betrayal you have done to this nation [is enough],” Erdogan said, without mentioning Gulen’s name, and calling on him to return to Turkey to face trial.
At least 90 people were martyred and more than 1,000 others injured during the coup attempt on late Friday.
