Probe reveals Gülenist military attachés' Whatsapp group
by Mehmed Cavid Barkçin
ISTANBULDec 13, 2016 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Mehmed Cavid Barkçin
Dec 13, 2016 12:00 am
As part of the investigation being conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a WhatsApp group named "Attachés," consisting of military attachés who served in various Turkish embassies, was deciphered through extensive examination of the arrested attachés' cell phones, providing an insight to the July 15 coup attempt. The WhatsApp group was found to be administered by Rear Admiral Sinan Sürer, the former head of the Chief of Staff's First Intelligence Analysis Assessment, and was formed in November 2015. It was noted that Sürer had come to the Chief of Staff Headquarters on the night of July 15 wearing civilian attire, donning his military uniform at the headquarters and then starting to fire on civilians.
On the night of the coup, the first message is seen to be coinciding with the increased activity at the Chief of Staff Headquarters and the closing of the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul by a group of gendarmerie. One of the military attachés in the group asked whether the news about the coup attempt were true at 9:34 p.m., to which Sürer replied, "The Turkish Armed Forces have seized power. Relay this information to all of your correspondents immediately. Explain the situation within the extent of chief of staff's [coup] statement" at 9:40 p.m. Sürer's message was responded with a "Sir! Yes, sir!" by each and every person in the WhatsApp group. According to the WhatsApp group conversations, as the coup attempt's failure became clear, Sürer, who is affiliated with the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) seemingly shifted to an anti-coup stance by saying, "Continue to do your duty within the military hierarchy, as you always do" at 6:26 a.m. Attachés serving at Turkish embassies in 68 countries were scrutinized as a part of the ongoing investigations and 264 suspects consisting of Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces, administrative and communications personnel were identified within this context. Some 165 attachés were dismissed due to their connections with FETÖ and were ordered to return to Turkey. While 24 of the attachés who returned to Turkey were arrested by the order of the court, another 54 attachés were penalized with judicial control. On the other hand, the remaining 87 attachés did not comply with the return order and are currently declared as fugitives. Military attachés of 30 countries are also reported to be avoiding trial. Eighteen military attachés serving in capitals such as Berlin, Brussels, Vienna and Rome presented false medical reports, the most frequent excuses being dizziness, lower back pain, upper respiratory infection and depression, to avoid being declared as fugitives.
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