July 15 Coup Attempt İsmail Kefal

İsmail Kefal

İsmail Kefal went to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge on the night of the July 15th coup attempt and livestreamed the attacks on the bridge. He was martyred after the tank he climbed on hit him. İsmail went to resist the coup attempt with his friends without waiting for the call of President Erdoğan. He started livestreaming the events on the bridge after he arrived at the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge with his friends.

Unfortunately, İsmail was caught in the crossfire on the bridge. He climbed on one of the tanks to try and attempt to stop it from running over citizens. The soldier who was operating the tank turned the barrel on the tank when Kefal climbed on. İsmail managed to stay on top by holding onto the communication antenna. However, he wasn’t able to stop the barrel that hit him on the side of his head. He was then only able to walk 200-300 meters after the impact to his head, he then collapsed and was unable to continue walking.

His family received the news around 2:30 in the morning. On july 16th, Kefal was buried next to his father Murat Kefal, who passed away in 2001, in the Tirebolu district of Giresun where he wished to be buried.

He dedicated his life to his mother

İsmail was 32 years old and grew up in Giresun. He started working as a waiter in a hotel after coming to Istanbul at the age of 21. Losing his father in 2001, he was trying to provide for his mother and sister. İsmail’s mother said she is proud of her son and added, “There are no words left. I hope nobody experiences this pain. This is my test. I only had a son. May our country survive. He died defending his country. If I had another son, I would sacrifice him for my country as well.”

The name Martyr İsmail Kefal was given to an Anatolian imam hatip high school in his hometown of Giresun.

The Bosporus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges on the night of July 15
13 PHOTOGRAPH
Civilians stopped a bus full of soldiers right before entering the bridge.

Civilians stopped a bus full of soldiers right before entering the bridge.

A group of soldiers blocking passage to the European side since the early hours of the evening opened fire on unarmed citizens who were marching to the bridges to resist to the coup attempt.

A group of soldiers blocking passage to the European side since the early hours of the evening opened fire on unarmed citizens who were marching to the bridges to resist to the coup attempt.

People flocked to the bridges being occupied by soldiers on President Erdoğan’s call.

People flocked to the bridges being occupied by soldiers on President Erdoğan’s call.

13 Both bridges were opened to traffic after police removed the tanks on the Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Bosporus Bridges.

13 Both bridges were opened to traffic after police removed the tanks on the Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Bosporus Bridges.

While FETÖ’s coup soldiers continued firing at the crowd, a tank and armored vehicles came on the bridge from the Beylerbeyi entrance on the wrong side of traffic.

While FETÖ’s coup soldiers continued firing at the crowd, a tank and armored vehicles came on the bridge from the Beylerbeyi entrance on the wrong side of traffic.

Units that hit the road on the instructions of the coup generals were carrying ammunition, including 10 tank shells, 2,000 MG3 bullet series, three boxes of ammunition for ZMAs and 5,000 bullets for armored personnel carriers.

Units that hit the road on the instructions of the coup generals were carrying ammunition, including 10 tank shells, 2,000 MG3 bullet series, three boxes of ammunition for ZMAs and 5,000 bullets for armored personnel carriers.

Soldiers controlling Bosporus Bridge during the coup attempt shot shells toward civilians and police.

Soldiers controlling Bosporus Bridge during the coup attempt shot shells toward civilians and police.

12 All soldiers who occupied the Bosporus Bridge during the July 15 coup attempt surrendered. The bridge was renamed the July 15 Martyrs Bridge with a Cabinet decree on July 25.

12 All soldiers who occupied the Bosporus Bridge during the July 15 coup attempt surrendered. The bridge was renamed the July 15 Martyrs Bridge with a Cabinet decree on July 25.

Six civilians, Erol Olçak and his 16-year-old son Abdullah Tayyip Olçok, were martyred in the first round of gunfire.

Six civilians, Erol Olçak and his 16-year-old son Abdullah Tayyip Olçok, were martyred in the first round of gunfire.

11 An anti-riot water cannon vehicle was shot and burst into flames.

11 An anti-riot water cannon vehicle was shot and burst into flames.

3 Two tanks and armored personnel carriers proceeded to seize the bridges. Four tanks, two armored personnel carriers and two armored combat vehicles were directed to Sabiha Gökçen Airport; four armored personnel carriers to the 1st Army Commandership; four armored personnel carriers to Acıbadem Telekom; and eight tanks, two armored personnel carriers and two armored combat vehicles to the Üsküdar riot police base.

3 Two tanks and armored personnel carriers proceeded to seize the bridges. Four tanks, two armored personnel carriers and two armored combat vehicles were directed to Sabiha Gökçen Airport; four armored personnel carriers to the 1st Army Commandership; four armored personnel carriers to Acıbadem Telekom; and eight tanks, two armored personnel carriers and two armored combat vehicles to the Üsküdar riot police base.

FETÖ coup soldiers closed traffic from the Anatolian to European Side of Istanbul on the Bosporus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges.

FETÖ coup soldiers closed traffic from the Anatolian to European Side of Istanbul on the Bosporus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges.

Civilians who were shot and injured were taken to hospitals in taxis, ambulances and sometimes motorcycles.

Civilians who were shot and injured were taken to hospitals in taxis, ambulances and sometimes motorcycles.

The Bosporus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges on the night of July 15
News of one of the bloodiest nights in Turkey, the July 15 coup attempt, first spread with the disturbance on the Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Bosporus Bridges. Citizens realizing that both bridges were occupied by traitor FETÖ soldiers resisted, saying: “We won’t surrender this land to you”, on the call of President Erdoğan to the public to claim the streets.
COMMENT

Putschists closed the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge to traffic
PLAY 00:08:30
Putschists closed the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge to traffic
Yeni Şafak
Putschist traitors’ first attacks were aimed at occupying places of strategic importance. Chief among these locations was the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge that came under their occupation. Putschists barred traffic from the bridge’s Asian side towards the European side by enforcing tanks. Putschists opened fire on civilians trying to foil their coup attempt by walking over the bridge.
COMMENT

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