ISTANBUL / AA

The Presidency's Directorate of Communications organized a march on Wednesday in which thousands of Turks participated on the 'July 15 Martyrs Bridge' (Bosphorus), to commemorate the martyrs of the failed coup attempt and the 10th anniversary of 'Democracy and National Unity Day'.

The march started at 10:00 a.m. from Zincirlikuyu station on the European side of the bridge, which is one of the most prominent symbols associated with the resistance against the failed coup attempt in 2016.

Thousands of participants, carrying Turkish flags, walked along the path about four kilometers long over the bridge.

The march concluded at the July 15 Martyrs Monument, located on the Asian side of the bridge.

The event was attended by Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, Deputy Head of the Presidency's Directorate of Communications Ferhat Pirinççi, and Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, along with a number of officials.

Also, the 'Democracy and Commemoration of July 15 Martyrs Race' was held under the supervision of the Turkish Athletics Federation.

The race started from the European entrance of the bridge, with the participation of professional runners and athletes, while the top finishers entered the monument square raising Turkish flags and chanting 'takbir'.

In mid-July 2016, Turkey witnessed a failed coup attempt carried out by limited elements of the military loyal to the Gülenist terrorist organization, who tried to seize the state's institutions and its security and media organizations.

The Turkish government declared July 15 of each year as 'Democracy and National Unity Day', in memory of 253 martyrs who were martyred during the resistance against the coup attempt.