ANKARA (News Desk) – The Turkish soldiers, who participated in the Friday night’s failed military coup in the country, have told the investigators that they thought they were taking part in a military exercise.
According to Turkish media reports, many of soldiers were unknowingly part of an attempt to topple President Erdogan’s government. “The soldiers were told that they were participating in military drill to protect the city of Istanbul,” an unnamed interrogator was quoted as saying by Hurriyat newspaper.
“The soldiers were told that they were participating in military drill to protect the city of Istanbul,” an unnamed interrogator was quoted as saying by Hurriyat newspaper.
“The soldiers only became aware of the coup attempt when people starting climbing on their tanks,” the report added.
A faction of Turkish military on Friday night attempted to overthrow Erdogan government, however, the conspiracy failed after huge crowds took it to streets responding to a call of President Erdogan.
At least 265 people, including over 100 pro-coup soldiers, were killed in the coup-related clashes which continued till Saturday morning. Some 1,400 were also injured and taken to hospitals.
So far, over 6,000 soldiers involved in the coup attempt have been detained by security forces while about 2,700 judges and prosecutors have also been dismissed from service.
A group of 678 troops and 10 officers, headed by a colonel, was just arrested at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport.
