Turkish military attache to Kuwait detained over 'coup connection'

The Turkish military attache to Kuwait was detained in Saudi Arabia's Dammam airport at Ankara's request, Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV reported.

Mikail Gullu was heading to Amsterdam on Sunday when he was apprehended at King Fahd International Airport over connections with Friday's failed military coup in Turkey.

Gullu had been on a list of people designated for jobs in government, a Turkish official told the London-based Financial Times.

Leaked plans on the attempted coup revealed that Gullu was set to head the MKE, a government-controlled arms manufacturer, had the coup succeeded.

Separately, Saudi Arabia's King Salman congratulated Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for standing up against the attempted military coup, Saudi official news agency SPA reported.

"His majesty congratulated him for the return to normal in Turkey and expressed the kingdom of Saudi Arabia's welcoming of the security and stability restored by the leadership of his excellency [Erdogan] and the continuation of the activities of the Turkish government," SPA said in a statement.

The Saudi government had followed "with great concern" the military coup attempt in Turkey on Friday, adding that the failed putsch hindered Turkey's "security and stability," SPA reported.

Turkish authorities confirmed on Sunday that more than 6,000 people were arrested as part of the government's crackdown on those involved in the coup attempt.