Turkish General Staff refutes 'drill' claims of coup plotting soldiers

The Turkish General Staff has refuted claims that suspects of the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt were "participating in a drill," in a report sent to chief public prosecutor's offices in 81 provinces, saying that the events that unfolded on the night of the thwarted coup were deliberate, daily Habertürk reported on March 2.

The expert report prepared by the military has provided details on the drill process of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). 

The report, which will be provided as evidence in coup attempt cases, was included in the investigation carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the events that took place in the General Staff headquarters on the night of the foiled coup, widely believed to have been masterminded by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ). 

A number of suspects being tried over the coup attempt have told courts that they were unaware of participating in a coup, adding that they left their barracks after their commanders told them there was a military drill. 

The TSK plans the drills according to the predetermined "educational activity schedule," the report said. All drills are planned at the start of the academic year and would be completed by June 15 at most, the TSK said.

"A professional TSK member, who received the order of an alarm or a drill on July 15, should have found the order against the regular pace of life and questioned it," the report added.

In the report, the General Staff said regardless of the level of the alarms or drills, actual bullets would be used only in specially determined shooting fields and with very high security measures. These shooting fields are located kilometers away from city centers, while information is given to nearby...