16 rebel soldiers killed in gendarmerie headquarters: Turkish police chief

ANKARA

Smoke billows from the direction of the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, on July 16. AP photo

Turkey’s police chief Celalettin Lekesiz has announced that 16 rebel soldiers were killed at the Gendarmerie General Command, which was taken back from the coup attempters. 

 “They were trying to command and control the gendarmerie forces across 81 provinces across Turkey,” said Lekesiz. 

The operation there was still ongoing at the headquarters in Beştepe, where the presidential palace is also located, but it was about to finish, he said. 

“16 of them are killed and nearly 250 of them are detained,” he added.