Turkish father of twin policemen killed in 2016 coup attempt proud of his sons

By Eren Bozkurt

ADANA, Türkiye (AA) - The father of twin policemen who were killed in the defeated 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye told Anadolu Agency that he is proud of his sons.

Ahmet and Mehmet Oruc were killed in a bomb attack in the capital province of Ankara during the coup attempt launched by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) on July 15, 2016.

"As the families of martyrs, we're proud, we're honored," Father Ali Oruc told Anadolu Agency.

Oruc, who still grieves for his sons, visits his children's graves every week, caring for the flowers that decorate them, and prayers.

"We always feel the sorrow and absence of my Ahmet and Mehmet, who were martyred for the homeland and the flag. When the anniversary (of their deaths) comes, we get sadder. I go to our children's graves all the time. I pray, I talk to my children when I'm alone," he said.

Ahmet and Mehmet Oruc spent their entire school lives together.

The twins, who fulfilled their dream of graduating from the police training school, later enrolled to become helicopter pilots.

The officers, who received eight months of training at the facilities of the Aviation Department of the General Directorate of Security in the Golbasi district of Ankara, were killed by the bombs dropped on the facility during the coup attempt.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup, which left 251 people dead and 2,734 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.

The attempt by FETO to overthrow the government began around 10 p.m. local time (1900GMT) on July 15, 2016, and was thwarted by 8 a.m. the next day.

Standing against the threat, the Turkish people courageously showed the world that they would not tolerate any attempt to trample their will as expressed through their democratically elected government.

*Writing by Seda Sevencan in Istanbul