Ankara prosecutor completes probe into US embassy shooting

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

An investigation into the U.S. embassy drive-by shooting which occurred on Aug. 20 in the Turkish capital was completed on Oct. 11, according to a judicial source.

The indictment prepared by Ankara public prosecutor Murat Özcan has designated Ahmet Çelikten and Osman Gündaş, who allegedly carried out the attack, and Gündaş’ boss Ersin Bayram as well as Talip Bora Kılıç — the owner of the vehicle that was presumably used during the attack — as suspects.

The indictment was sent to the 32nd Heavy Penal Court in Ankara.

According to the investigations, the suspects, Gündaş and Bayram, allegedly communicated with FETÖ over cell phone.

The anti-terror branch of Ankara’s Security Directorate said Gündaş had apparently shared videos of Fetullah Gülen, the ringleader of the group believed to have been behind the July 15, 2016 defeated coup.

Bayram also allegedly downloaded smartphone applications linked to the organization.

According to the Ankara Governor’s Office, Çelikten and Gündaş confessed to their involvement in the attack.

Footage from city surveillance cameras shows that Çelikten and Gündaş scouted the area outside the embassy building 20 minutes before the attack.

The suspects face up to 55 years in prison.

FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen are widely believed to have orchestrated the defeated coup in 2016, which left 251 people dead and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.