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