149 soldiers on run since July 15 coup attempt: Turkish defense minister

ISTANBUL

AFP photo

Some 149 military officers, including seven generals, are still on the run since the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Işık said on Feb. 5.

Answering a question from Republican People’s Party (CHP) lawmaker Ali Yiğit in parliament, Işık said a total of 149 fugitive soldiers were missing. 

He said 21 sergeants, 120 officers, of whom seven of them were generals, and a cadet, were missing.  

More than 300 soldiers including generals, who are suspected of having links with the coup attempt remained at large, Işık said on Aug. 2, 2016.

“There are 311 soldiers including 9 generals who are on the run,” Işık had told Turkish broadcaster CNN Türk, adding that efforts were underway to find the soldiers in the aftermath of the deadly coup attempt, which killed more than 230 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.

A total of 20,088 people, including soldiers and military students, have been dismissed from the army in line with the ongoing investigation into the Fethullahist Terror Organization, Işık stated on Nov. 17, 2016.