July 15 Coup Attempt Yılmaz Ercan

Yılmaz Ercan

Yılmaz Ercan who carried wounded people and faced putschists on the Bosphorus Bridge, on July 15th was recorded by the bridge’s cameras as he drove his motorbike towards the putschists tanks. Ercan, who created one of the most unforgettable moments of the July 15th coup attempt, was martyred by putschists while on his motorbike.

Yılmaz Ercan who returned home after his night prayer on July 15th, received the news of the coup attempt after a phone call from his friend. Ercan read the Quran for a while and followed the news on his television. Upon the call of President Erdoğan, he went into the streets saying, “Tonight is the night. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. We voted for him. We won’t let anyone touch him.” Ercan went outside even though his wife tried to stop him. He headed to Kısıklı on his motorbike taking only his small Quran with him.

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.

“England did not do what these putschists did”

39 year old martyr Ercan headed to the Bosphorus Bridge after hearing what was going on there. Ercan carried those who were wounded by putschists one by one on his motorbike. Ultimately, he started moving towards the tanks on his motorbike. Ercan collapsed after he was shot by putschists. The putschist traitors did not let Yılmaz Ercan be taken to a hospital.

İlknur Ercan, wife of Yılmaz Ercan who was martyred on the Bosphorus Bridge, said, “My husband was still able to move his head when the day was about to be over. Soldiers did not allow him to be taken to a hospital. English soldiers in Çanakkale did not do what those putschists did.”

The martyr Yılmaz Ercan was buried in the Edirnekapı martyrs’ graveyard.

The name of martyr Yılmaz Ercan was given to an elementary school in Ümraniye, Istanbul and an Imam Hatip high school in Serdivan, Sakarya.

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.