German: 35 Turkish diplomats applied for asylum

Some 35 Turkish citizens with diplomatic passports applied for asylum in Germany after a failed military coup in Turkey in July that was followed by a crackdown on suspected supporters of the putsch, the Ministry of Interior revealed today.

Speaking at a news conference, ministry spokesman Johannes Dimroth said the number included Turkish diplomats as well as their family members, but did not say if they had all been based in Germany.

He said he could not give any more details on the diplomats and their motivation to apply for asylum in Germany.

At the Turkish embassy in Berlin, nobody was immediately available to comment

It was not clear if the Turkish government has requested the extradition of the diplomats by German authorities.