The Turkish president warned that the members of the military behind the plot to oust him would pay a 'heavy price for their treason' as he blamed his rival Fethullah Gulen for orchestrating the uprising.
Muslim cleric Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania as the head of a billion dollar religious movement, has often been the scapegoat for political unrest.
As President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his triumphant return back to Istanbul after his forces quelled the coup on Friday evening, he told the gathered masses as Ataturk Airport that those loyal to Gulen had 'penetrated the Armed Forces and the police, among other government agencies, over the past 40 years.'
'What is being perpetrated is a rebellion and a treason,' Mr. Erdogan said. 'They will pay a heavy price for their treason to Turkey.'
Gulen's nonprofit organization, the Alliance for Shared Values, denies any involvement and condemned the actions of the Turkish military.
Up to 100 rebel soldiers surrendered on Bosphorus Bridge after their failed uprising. At least 120 connected have been arrested in connection with the dramatic coup which lasted approximately five hours.
Explosions and gunfire erupted in Istanbul and Ankara on Friday night during
Turkish military has killed at least 60 people - 17 of those police officers - in the army's bid to overthrow the Islamic government.
Elsewhere troops opened fire on civilians attempting to cross the river Bosporus in Istanbul in protest to the military coup, while a bomb has hit the parliament building according to the state's press agency as the security situation in the country becomes more perilous.
Colonel Muharrem Kose reportedly lead the Turkish military forces in the Turkey uprising.
Kose had recently been kicked out of the army, from his position as head of the military's legal advisory department, over his links to Gulen. He was killed during the clashes with Erdogan's supporters, MailOnline reports.
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