July 15 Coup Attempt Kemal Ekşi

Kemal Ekşi

Kemal Ekşi, who was shot by FETÖ members during the coup attempt, had finished his military service one month before he was martyred.

Ekşi was one of the first people who ran out onto the streets as soon as he found about the July 15th coup attempt. His mother, with whom he spoke to twice, wanted him to come back home, but Ekşi said, “It’s not like what you think, I will go.”

The 24-year-old went to the Bosporus Bridge, which was blocked by FETÖ members, with his cousin and friend around 11:00 PM. FETÖ members fired a warning shot at first to the people who were resisting them on the bridge. Some of the people retreated after the warning shot. The traitorous soldiers who took cover continued to kill. Ekşi, who was shot in several parts of his body, was martyred on the scene when a bullet hit him underneath his heart.

Kemal Ekşi was the oldest of four brothers. Ekşi, who was originally from Rize, graduated from the Machine Technician Department of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University. Ekşi, who died as a martyr on the Bosphorus Bridge on the night of July 15, was buried in the Karacaahmet Graveyard.

The name of Martyr Kemal Ekşi was given to an Anatolian Imam Hatip high school in Büyükçekmece.

Putschists raked the people with gunfire on The Bosporus Bridge
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Putschists raked the people with gunfire on The Bosporus Bridge
Yeni Şafak
Putschists first closed the Bosporus and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges. The events escalated by the time civilians flocked to the bridges. The putchists raked the people with gunfire on the bridge and they ran over vehicles with tanks. Erol Olçok and his son Abdullah Tayyip Olçok were shot first in the gunfire from the traitors. Many citizens were martyred, as the putschists opened fire randomly on the crowd.
COMMENT

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

Professions of those killed
Professions of those killed
Of the 248 citizens killed in the coup attempt, 70 were soldiers and policemen. The 171 martyrs who came to the streets to repel the coup were civilian citizens of different professions.

Istanbul's July 15 Martyrs
Istanbul's July 15 Martyrs

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