Alwaght- Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister said that pro-coup military personnel who are at large since mid-July botched coup attempt could launch terror attacks against the state.
Speaking to Haberturk television on Tuesday, Numan Kurtulmus said "They and their collaborators may engage in lone wolf attacks and assassinations. They would turn to cyber attacks,” referring to the fugitive rebel soldiers
"We need to stay alert from now on. All state institutions and departments are on alert. It is important to exercise caution in the face all forms of potential threats,” he added.
On the night of July 15, a faction of the Turkish military declared itself in charge of the country. Tanks and helicopters were used by the rebel faction to fight government loyalists on the streets of the capital, Ankara, and the city of Istanbul.
The coup attempt was suppressed as people turned out on the streets to support the incumbent government.
At least 246 people were killed and more than 2,100 others sustained injuries.
Turkish government has fired or detained tens of thousands of people from the military, judiciary, civil services and education in the aftermath of the botched putsch.
Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Tuesday that around 16,000 people have been remanded in custody and are awaiting trial. Another 6,000 people are in detention and await initial court hearings.
Turkey recently sacked 1,389 members of the military personnel, including senior commanders, on suspicion of affiliation to the network of US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the coup bid. Gulen has strongly refuted the accusation.
