Turkey: 33 sentenced for life after coup attempt

By Tanju Ozkaya and Ismet Karakas

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish court on Wednesday gave eight suspects aggravated life sentences and 25 others life in prison for their actions at a military school during the 2016 defeated coup.

Former Brig. Gen. Ahmet Bican Kirker was sentenced to aggravated life in prison plus 16 years for violating the constitution and injuring a Turkish citizen in the coup attempt at the Etimesgut armored forces school in Ankara, Turkey's capital.

The hearing was attended by the 53 defendants and their lawyers at the Ankara high criminal court.

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

* Writing by Dilara Hamit