Turkey: Video falsifies claims of putschists

By Tanju Ozkaya and Serdar Acil

ANKARA (AA) - A video falsified the claims of putschists from the Gendarmerie General Command that they did not use weapons and exchange fire with police during the night of the July 2016 defeated coup.

An expert report based on the video captured by a security camera was submitted to Ankara’s 23rd Heavy Penal Court.

The video footage, which was obtained by Anadolu Agency correspondent, showed the putschists took over the Command together with civilian dressed intelligence officers, took weapons and ammunitions from the arsenal and tried to arrest other soldiers.

The footage revealed an intense exchange of fire between the police and the putschists and a helicopter shooting on the civilians, who had gathered in front of the Command to prevent the coup.

It also displayed the panic of the putschists after they became aware of the failure of the coup attempt and their surrender to police.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.