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Hundreds Sentenced to Life Terms in 2016 Turkey Coup Attempt

VOA News

   A Turkish court on Thursday handed down life sentences to more than 300
   military and civilian personnel who had been on trial for three years
   for their roles in a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip
   Erdogan's government in July 2016.

   They were among 475 people who had gone on trial in August 2017 in
   connection with the failed coup. The takeover attempt left more than
   250 people dead and 2,000 people injured.

   The incident led to a massive crackdown; 130,000 people were fired from
   their government jobs.

   Prosecutors accused the defendants in the mass trial, including some
   generals and fighter jet pilots, of directing the coup and bombing key
   government buildings, including a section of Turkey's parliament. They
   were also accused of holding then-military chief Hulusi Akar, who now
   serves as defense minister, captive for several hours. Authorities say
   the defendants directed the plot from the Akinci base outside the
   capital, Ankara.

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