ANKARA (Sputnik) — Suspected masterminds behind a July coup attempt in Turkey visited the United States shortly before the thwarted coup to meet dissident Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by Ankara of orchestrating the mutiny, Turkish media reported Wednesday.
Adil Oksuz and Kemal Batmaz, who are suspected of plotting the July mutiny, visited the United States on July 11-13, according to the Turkish Daily Sabah newspaper.
27 October 2016, 08:25 GMT
On July 15, a military coup attempt took place in Turkey. It was suppressed the following day. Over 240 people were killed during the coup attempt and an estimated 2,000 were wounded.
Ankara has accused Gulen, who has been living in the US state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his followers of playing a key role in the coup. Gulen himself has denounced the rebellion and declared his innocence.
