Over 140 Turkish military on trial over 2016 coup

World
Europe

Over 140 former Turkish military personnel went on trial Monday in Istanbul over clashes with civilians that left more than 30 people dead during last year’s coup attempt.

34 people were killed amid bloody fighting on a bridge across the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul between supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and renegade soldiers seeking to oust the elected government on the night of July 15, 2016.

The dead included Erdogan's campaign manager Erol Olcok and his 16-year-old son, who were killed when soldiers opened fire on protesters on the bridge, which was later renamed July 15 Martyrs Bridge.

A total of 318 others were injured.

Tanks and other military vehicles on the streets of Istanbul, Turkey amid an attempted military coup on July 16, 2016. /VCG Photo

Turkey believes that the coup attempt, in which 250 people were killed across the country, was orchestrated by the US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen and his followers in the military.

The cleric, who lives in Pennsylvania, has denied any involvement.

On Monday, a total of 143 suspects, including 30 officers, appeared in court.

If convicted, the dismissed soldiers each will face aggravated life imprisonment over "murder and attempting to overthrow the parliament and government," press reports said.

All the suspects barring eight are currently under arrest.

They are accused of crimes ranging from murder to attempting to overthrow the parliament and the government, according to the 1,052-page indictment.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan reviews an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, October 9, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Monday's trial is one of several legal processes seeking to bring to justice those believed to have played a role in the coup bid.

Last week, a court in southwestern Turkey handed life sentences to 40 people convicted of plotting to assassinate Erdogan at an Aegean hotel.

Turkey has been pushing for Gulen's extradition. Erdogan has also vowed to purge all state institutions to clean his "virus".

Over 50,000 people have been arrested since last July, accused of links to the Gulen movement, while more than 140,000 public sector employees have been sacked or suspended.

7057km

Source(s): AFP ,Xinhua News Agency