Ankara: A former Turkish special operations police commander has urged the public to remain vigilant against covert threats, 10 years after the defeated July 15, 2016 coup attempt. On July 15, 2016, a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces linked to the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO) attempted to seize power in several cities, particularly Ankara and Istanbul.

According to Anadolu Agency, the coup plotters opened fire on civilians, turned against their commanders, and bombed the Turkish parliament and presidential complex, resulting in 253 deaths and thousands of injuries. Eraslan Er, then head of the Ankara Police Department's Special Operations Branch, emphasized that safeguarding the nation is not solely the state's responsibility.

Er recounted being dispatched to the Turkish General Staff headquarters following reports of unusual activity, only to be denied entry. Upon learning of the coup attempt, he joined an operation at the Gendarmerie General Command headquarters, which was a central location for the plot's ground operations. He noted that civilians rallied in the area, resisting the coup after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's call to defend democracy.

Er described the resistance as unprecedented, highlighting a critical moment when he discovered Turgut Aslan, then head of the Turkish National Police Counterterrorism Department, severely wounded. Police secured an ambulance and transported Aslan, who survived despite a life-threatening head injury. Er expressed hope that such a night would never be experienced again, affirming the nation's readiness to respond to future threats.