Turkish military helicopter lands in Greece, 8 request asylum: police

16 July 2016 11:23 AM GMT

Seven of those on board were in military uniform and all are believed to have been involved in the attempted putsch.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (Photo: AP)

Alexandroupoli: A Turkish military helicopter landed in Greece on Saturday carrying eight men seeking asylum after a coup bid, Greek police said.

The Black Hawk helicopter landed after sending a distress signal to authorities at the airport in Alexandroupolis in the country's north.

Seven of those on board were in military uniform and all are believed to have been involved in the attempted putsch, ERT TV said.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara had asked Athens to send back the eight coup plotters.

"We have requested Greece to extradite the eight traitors as soon possible," Cavusoglu was quoted as telling HaberTurk television.

According to an official in the Greek National Defence General Staff, "the helicopter is scheduled to be sent back immediately to Turkey".

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras early on Saturday expressed his "support for the democratically elected" Turkish government.

( Source : AFP )