ISTANBUL (Web Desk) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan broke down in tears while speaking at the funeral of an old friend in Istanbul killed during the coup.
Erol Olcak and his 16-year-old son were shot dead on the Bosphorous bridge in the city during Friday’s attempted coup.
They had been on the bridge to protest against the putsch launched by a group within the military, according to local media.
Erdogan told the crowd of hundreds chanting Allahu akbar, “God is greatest”: “Erol was an old friend of mine.”
Unable to control his tears, Erdogan then said: “I cannot speak any further. Condolences to our nation.” He concluded: “May God have mercy on your soul.”
