July 15 Coup Attempt Fırat Bulut

Fırat Bulut

Fırat Bulut fought with FETÖ members for 2 hours, firing a total of 281 bullets at them, in front of the General Staff Headquarters Building during the July 15th coup attempt. He told his mother, “don’t beat yourself up if I’m martyred,” one week before the coup attempt.

He clashed with terrorists for 2 hours firing a total of 281 bullets

Fırat was a police officer in the General Staff Headquarters where he worked on July 15th. He fired a total of 281 bullets in his fight against FETÖ members who were trying to get into the General Staff Headquarters. He told his friends who wanted him to retreat in the fight, “I’ll give my life for my country. I can’t let a bastard take our country.” He put his life on the line against traitors for hours.

He talked to his father at 11:30 PM for the last time and said good bye to his family in the case that something would happen to him. Then he called everybody he remembered to say good bye to. He was severely injured by a bullet fired by an armored personnel carrying vehicle in front of the General Staff Headquarters Building.

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, CHP’s leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, MHP’s leader Devlet Bahçeli, and many ministers and bureaucrats attended the funeral of 30 year old Police Officer Fırat Bulut on July 17th along with Bulut’s 5 year old daughter Büşra, his father Şinasi, his mother Rahime, and his wife Gamze.

Martyr Fırat Bulut was buried in the Karşıyaka Cemetery.

“Don’t beat yourself up”

Fırat loved his country and told his mother two weeks before the coup attempt, “Don’t beat yourself up if I’m martyred. I’m ready to die for my country. Things are bad in my country.” He was known for his love of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He had been working in Ankara for 3 years. He had been married for 8 years, with one child.

The name Martyr Fırat Bulut was given to an elementary school in Keçiören, Ankara.

The General Staff building under occupation
PLAY 00:07:18
The General Staff building under occupation
Yeni Şafak
One of the first targets attacked by the putschist soldiers in Ankara was the General Staff Headquarters. Armed with tanks, putschists started shooting at civilians who rushed to the General Staff Headquarters. With orders “to retalliate,” police crews launched an operation against the putschists, during which helicopters that arrived at the scene provided support. Many civilians were martyred in front of the General Staff Headquarters, and clashes lasted until the morning hours.