Saudi King Salman congratulates Erdogan for return of ‘normality’ in Turkey

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Sunday called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him for the return to calm in Turkey, Al Arabiya News Channel reported, after a shock military coup attempt late on Friday was foiled by widespread protests.

On Sunday evening, Saudi authorities at the request of Ankara detained Turkey’s military attaché to Kuwait who had been flying through the eastern city of Dammam.

A Turkish official told the London-based Financial Times paper earlier that the attache, Mikail Gullu, had been en route to Amsterdam.

Saudi authorities had followed “with great concern,” the coup attempt which threatened to “destabiliz[e]” Turkey’s “security and stability,” the state-run press agency SPA reported a foreign ministry source as saying.

The coup attempt by several sections of Turkey’s army saw airports closed, bridges cordoned off and tanks roll through the streets of Ankara, the capital, and Istanbul, the largest city.

Pro-coup soldiers also gained control of several TV stations and announced the takeover, before civilians and police - at Erdogan’s urging - wrestled control back from the army.

At least 294 people were killed and more than 1,400 wounded in the foiled coup, Turkey's government has said.