Six killed as boat en route to Lesbos capsizes

BALIKESİR

At least six people died when an inflatable boat carrying 16 people from the Turkish coast en route to the Greek Island of Lesbos capsized on July 29.

Three babies were among the killed passengers, Ayvalik governor Gökhan Görgülüaslan from Turkey’s northwestern province of Balıkesir told state-run Anadolu Agency.

Nine others were rescued by coastguards officials and one person is missing, he added.

Görgülüaslan also said two of the 16 people onboard were suspected to be criminals organizing illegal crossings whereas others were believed to be members of the illegal network of United States-based Islamist preacher Fethullah Gülen.

Gülen network, identified as Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) by Turkish authorities, has been blamed for orchestrating the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016. Gülen and his followers have also been accused of conducting a long-running campaign to infiltrate Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and the judiciary.

Thousands of people have been imprisoned and sacked from state institutions since the coup attempt, and many people have fled the country.