Istanbul court releases hundreds of conscripts under arrest

A man walks is seen left behind a giant Turkish flag at Besiktas area in Istanbul, on Friday, July 29, 2016. The government crackdown in the coup's aftermath has strained Turkey's ties with key allies including the United States. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

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People with Turkish flags gather at the 15 July martyrs square in Ankara, Turkey, on Friday, July 29, 2016. The government crackdown in the coup's aftermath has strained Turkey's ties with key allies including the United States. (AP Photo/Ali Unal) (The Associated Press)

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech commenting on those killed and wounded during a failed July 15 military coup, in Ankara, Turkey, late Friday, July 29, 2016. The government crackdown in the coup's aftermath has strained Turkey's ties with key allies including the United States. (AP Photo/Kayhan Ozer Presidential Press Service, via AP Pool) (The Associated Press)

ISTANBUL – An Istanbul court has released hundreds of enlisted conscripts under arrest as part of the investigation into the July 15 abortive coup, the state-run Anadolu news agency says.

After taking their testimony, prosecutors working for the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's office requested the release of 758 of the 989 conscripts. An Istanbul court ruled in favor of their release on the grounds their arrests were no longer necessary and that they did not pose a flight risk.

Among those released were military high school students.

According to the latest figures by Interior Minister Efkan Ala, over 9,000 people, mostly military, have been put under arrest in the aftermath of the failed coup, which caused the deaths of over 200 people.