Police Officers On Trial Over Failed Military Coup In Turkey

Twenty-nine former police officers, including three helicopter pilots, have gone on trial in Istanbul for their role in a failed military coup in July.

They are accused of aiding the coup by failing to carry out their duties, which included disobeying orders to protect the President’s Istanbul residence on the night.

Prosecutors have demanded aggravated life sentences for twenty-one of the officers, while the other eight face a maximum of 15 years for membership of a terrorist organisation.

It is the first of a series of trials in Turkey over the attempt which led to the deaths of 270 people.

Renegade officers used tanks, fighter jets and helicopters in efforts to unseat the government, attacking parliament and other key buildings.

The attempted coup was blamed on a network of followers of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen – an ally turned foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey has called for his extradition, despite Gulen denying any involvement in the coup.

The government had declared a state of emergency after the uprising and launched a large-scale crackdown against Fethullah Gulen’s network – now classified as a terror organisation.

Since July, more than 40,000 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attempted coup, while tens of thousands of others have been removed from government-related jobs.