Turkey marks third anniversary of failed coup

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and officials attend a ceremony at the July 15 Martyrs' Monument in Ankara, Turkey, on July 15, 2019. Turkey on Monday held nationwide ceremonies to mark the third anniversary of a deadly failed coup in 2016. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya)

ANKARA, July 15 -- Turkey on Monday held nationwide ceremonies to mark the third anniversary of a deadly failed coup in 2016.

In Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan laid flowers at the July 15 Martyrs' Monument in front of the presidential palace, attended a special parliamentary session and inaugurated a new building of Ankara police headquarters, which was bombed in the coup attempt.

On July 15, 2016, coup plotters blocked roads and bombed state institutions including the parliament before the attempt was thwarted with the help of citizens resisting putschist soldiers.

At least 250 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured during the coup attempt. Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based preacher, is accused by the Turkish government of orchestrating the coup.