Security forces in Turkey today carried out new raids against suspected plotters of Friday’s failed coup attempt by a faction of the Army against the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to State-run Anadolu news agency, Special Istanbul anti-terror police units raided the air force military academy in the city this morning in search of new suspects.
Authorities said, around 6,000 people have, so far, been detained in the investigation. The news agency also said, 1,800 additional elite special police forces have been deployed in from surrounding provinces to ensure security in Istanbul. Meanwhile, the death toll has crossed 290, with about 1,400 people wounded.
Demonstrations of support were held throughout the country last night. Thousands of pro-Erdogan supporters waving Turkish flags filled the main Kizilay Square in Ankara while similar scenes were seen in Taksim Square in Istanbul.
President Erdogan has also said that there should be no delay in using capital punishment. The President made the comment to a crowd of supporters who called for the death penalty outside his home in Istanbul. Turkey had abolished capital punishment in 2004 to meet European Union accession criteria and has not executed anyone since 1984.