Turkish government is increasing its efforts to detain those it deems responsible for weekend's failed coup attempt. It has arrested around 6,000 members of judiciary and military, including top judges and senior-ranking generals. It has also suspended nearly 8,000 police officers suspected of having links to coup attempt. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to purge all government institutions of what he calls "virus" that caused uprising. The president is taking very hard line with all those suspected of wrongdoing and has announced that Turkey would consider reinstating death penalty. This would hurt Turkey's efforts to join European Union.
Turkey's Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag announced that: "There are currently around 6,000 detentions. It will surpass 6,000. legal process on these will continue." He added that: "Suspects are being charged with membership of armed terrorist organisation and of attempting to overthrow government of Turkish Republic using force and violence, or of attempting to completely or partially hinder its function." At least 290 people were killed and thousands wounded in coup attempt. President Erdogan addressed country via mobile telephone, urging people to "take to streets" to defeat coup and to reclaim democracy. Forces loyal to president soon retook control of country.
