Yasin Aktay

Ankara, (IINA) : More than 10,400 suspects have been taken into custody so far in the wake of last Friday’s failed coup, the Justice and Development (AK) Party deputy chairman said on Thursday, Anadolu Agency reported.

Speaking at a press conference after an AK Party Central Executive Board meeting, spokesman Yasin Aktay announced the latest figures of suspects detained since Friday’s failed coup.

“10,410 suspects, including 287 police officers, 7,423 soldiers, 2,014 judiciary members, and 686 civilians have been taken into custody so far”, Aktay said.

In addition, the spokesman said that U.S Vice President Joe Biden made a phone call to Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and said Ankara’s official request for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, a key suspect being linked to Friday’s failed coup attempt, will be examined closely and as soon as possible.

“Biden called our prime minister due to the coup attempt and conveyed his wish to get past it”, he said.

On Tuesday, Turkey’s prime minister confirmed that an official request had been sent to the U.S for the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who resides in Pennsylvania. Moreover, Aktay said he had “difficulty understanding” Europeans’ criticism of Turkey’s state of emergency which was approved by the parliament Thursday for a period of three months.

Touching on the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)’s planned rallies, he said that the AK Party was invited to this Sunday’s rally which will be held in Istanbul’s Taksim Square.

“We got an invitation from CHP. Thank you so very much. We will go to the rally”, he said.

At least 246 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred in Istanbul and Ankara, and over 1,500 others were wounded as they protested the coup.

Turkey’s government has said the attempted coup was organized by followers of Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming the so-called “parallel state”.