Greece’s government spokesperson Olga Gerovasili has announced the Athens government is in touch with its counterpart in Ankara over the landing of a Turkish military helicopter with eight coup plotters on board in the northern border town of Alexandroupolis, Helena Smith reports

In the first official statement on the issue, the spokeswoman said the military aircraft had been accompanied by two fighter jets into Greek airspace and would be returned to Turkey as soon as possible. Suggesting that crisis-hit Greece wanted nothing to do with the bizarre incident, she also suggested that Greece would repatriate the eight military personnel aboard the helicopter.

“The Greek government has been in touch with Turkish authorities in order to arrange the return as soon as possible of the military helicopter to Turkish authorities,” she said. “With regards to the eight arrestees, procedures foreseen by international law will be upheld although it is seriously being taken into account that in their country the arrested stand accused of violating constitutional law and attempting the overthrow of democracy.”