Turkish soldier, hero of July 2016 coup attempt, confesses FETÖ membership

ANKARA

A Turkish soldier who was one of the heroes in thwarting the July 2016 coup attempt has reportedly confessed that he was a member of Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), widely believed to have orchestrated the coup attempt that killed more than 250 people.

Captain Burak Akın, who has been serving as the security chief of Land Forces Commander Gen. Yaşar Güler, recently surrendered to police headquarters in Ankara, reportedly testifying that FETÖ was “oppressing him and he could not stand the pressure.”

No information has been revealed about the kind of pressure used against Akın by FETÖ.

On the night of the coup attempt Akı was accompanying Land Forces Commander Gen. Salih Zeki Çolak, who was sent to check the Army Aviation School in Ankara by Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar.

After completing inspections at the Army Aviation School, Akın forced the vehicle carrying Çolak to wait in order to gain time at the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) intersection.

They subsequently proceeded to the Turkish General Staff Headquarters at a low speed of around 15-20 km. FETÖ-affiliated members of the special forces targeting the General Staff headquarters then interned Çolak as soon as he entered.

Akın allegedly drove slowly to the General Staff headquarters in order gain time for FETÖ members raiding the headquarters.

Akın had been declared a hero and awarded a medal for courageous actions in suppressing the coup attempt, as camera footage showed him being shot in his legs during the putsch.