Arrests over assassination attempt on Erdogan

Turkish authorities have arrested eleven people near the resort of Marmaris on suspicion of being part of a group that attacked the hotel where the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was staying on July 15, at the time of the attempted military coup, reports the Patria news agency.

The governor of Mugla province confirmed that nine of the 12 soldiers suspected of attacking the hotel where Erdogan was staying were arrested overnight.

This happened after two people reported seeing two individuals. He added that one of the arrested was the team leader, commander Sukru Seymen.

Two soldiers were arrested early on Monday. Last Monday, seven soldiers suspected of involvement in the attempt to kill Erdogan were arrested.

Erdogan was on holiday in Marmaris at the time of the coup attempt. It is believed that a group of soldiers attacked the hotel where Erdogan was staying for about an hour, AP recalls.

More than 18,000 people have been arrested, including 10,000 soldiers, following the attempted military coup in Turkey.

Erdogan commented on criticism of the purges in the country after the coup attempt.

“Some say: 'You fired 10,000, 20,000 people...' We will fire tens of thousands, regardless of who they are,” he said earlier.

Amnesty International has accused his government of torturing prisoners after the failed military coup.

The allegations include 'torture, beatings and rapes'.

The Turkish justice minister rejected those claims.

Erdogan said he would withdraw charges against those who insulted him, but that the purges would continue.

(Aljazeera)