Turkish Army Turncoats Targeted Prime Minister's Convoy During Coup

Sputnik News

11:37 20.07.2016(updated 11:53 20.07.2016)

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim's convoy was targeted by members of the Gendarmerie on the Friday night of the failed coup attempt in the country while he was traveling from Istanbul to Ankara, local media reported, citing the Turkish interior minister on Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – According to the media outlet, the convoy was fired at by an alleged gendarmerie vehicle in the Kastamonu province, when Yildirim was on his way to Ankara, from where he intended to control the emergency situation caused by the coup attempt.

"Coup attempters targeted Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım's car as well," Interior Minister Efkan Ala said, as quoted by the Hurriyet Daily News.

Late on Friday, the Turkish authorities said that an attempted coup was taking place in the country. The coup attempt was suppressed by early Saturday, with Yildirim stating that all coup supporters had been identified and would be apprehended as the country was returning to normal life.

Thousands of judiciary and senior civil service members have been removed from office in Turkey and thousands of military personnel have been arrested.

© Sputnik