Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 2
By Orkhan Quluzade – Trend:
The second main suspected plotter of July 15 failed coup attempt in Turkey, who collaborated with coup mastermind Adil Oksuz, has been identified as Kemal Batmaz, Sabah newspaper reported Nov. 2.
According to the reports, Batmaz was one of the people who accompanied Adil Oksuz during his trip to the US to visit Fethullah Gulen in Pennsylvania in June, July and March 2016.
Batmaz is currently held in custody, under the scope of a probe by Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office, which issued detention warrants for a total of 12 suspects who allegedly participated in the coup attempt.
Earlier, it was reported that Turkey’s Interior Ministry announced a reward of nearly $1 million for the information about whereabouts of Adil Oksuz, a member of the movement of Fethullah Gulen and its mastermind, who is accused of involvement in the July 15 coup attempt.
Oksuz was arrested at the Akinci air base immediately after the failed coup attempt July 16. However, he was released after the first interrogation.
On July 15 evening, Turkish authorities said a military coup attempt took place in the country. Meanwhile, a group of servicemen announced about transition of power to them. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities said the coup attempt failed.
Previously Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people, excluding the coup plotters, and over 2,000 people were wounded.
He also declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20. It was decided to prolong the state of emergency for 90 more days on Oct. 3.
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