An unidentified armory uncovered!
A significant number of weapons, ammunition and explosives not listed in the Turkish Armed Forces inventory were recovered during a search conducted on October 19th, 2010 of a shed located in a junkyard nearby the Aktütün First Gendarmerie Border Troop Command Headquarters service building, in the southeastern town of Şemdinli.
RIFLES, ROCKETS, DYNAMITEThe weapons seized from the junkyard, located just ten meters' distance from the Military Headquarters were as follows: 18 Kalashnikov rifles, three Kırıkkale infantry rifles, two bayonets, an RPG-7 rocket launcher, 273 items of gelatin dynamite, 26 cartridge clips and 220 missiles. TRACKS OF UNKNOWN PERPETRATORSDuring the military prosecution investigation, information was uncovered regarding the weapons being used in certain obscure events in the region. For example, it turns out these were the weapons used on an attack staged Şemdinli's Ortaklar District Official's place of business on February 6th, 2010. The incident marks a first for Turkey's Armed Forces (TAF) as a series of unregisters weapons, ammunitions and explosives were recovered in a junkyard located right next to the Şemdinli Aktütün First Gendarmerie Border Troop Command Headquarters. On October 19th, 2010, the Troop Command ordered a search of the barracks located on a junkyard adjacent to the headquarters building and sure enough a secret armory was uncovered. One day after the incident, October 20th, 2010, the 21st Border Troop Command Administrative Investigation Committee initiated a detailed investigation into the incident. The committee detected that the old 5 x 10 meter single-story shed, which was covered in sheet metal and was referred to as a junkyard depot did indeed contain weapons, ammunition as well as explosive materials. After initial inspection, it was noted that some of the weapons uncovered were not registered in TAF inventory and the ammunition found had never been added to TAF inventory. INVESTIGATION TO EXPANDThe Van Gendarmerie Public Order Corps Command Military Prosecution Office has begun a widespread investigation on the matter. The focus of the investigation is being placed on who set up the armory in the junkyard and where these weapons may have previously been used. Within the next few days the former Assistant Commander Colonel Bedri Dursun for the 21st Gendarmerie Border Troop in charge of the region as well as a number of other officers may be requested to provide statements in connection to the findings.Meanwhile, supposedly tension has surfaced due to permission being granted to the Van Gendarmerie Public Order Corps Legal Judge Advocate Colonel Şahin Polat prior to the military prosecutor to enter the armory and to transfer the weapons to the troop depot. Certain information which has surfaced in the investigation has been surprising. Findings show that the seized weapons and munitions may be connected to a number of unsolved incidents that have transpired in the region. The weapons confiscated from the junkyard have already been found to have been used in the February 16th, 2010 attack staged on Ortaklar District Official Kemal İnan's place of business. The attack was determined to be intended as a threat due to the aforementioned individual's knowledge of a smuggling incident which also involved certain state officials in the region.KOŞANER AND A SPECIAL WATCHDOGThe unveiling of an armory located next to the Aktütün headquarters has been a major source of surprise. According to the information obtained, Chief of General Staff Işık Koşaner and Gendarmerie General Commander Full General Necdet Özel are closely following the investigation headed by the Military Prosecutor's Department. Supposedly, General Özel, who is aware that information has surfaced placing certain officers in connection to the incident, has given the order to Van Gendarmerie Public Order Corps Commander General Nazım Altıntaş to 'do whatever is necessary'..
Last Update: January 17, 2011 15:18