25 ammunition blast victims ‘martyrs of natural disaster,’ officials say

ISTANBUL

Hürriyet photo

A letter sent to the relatives of the Turkish soldiers killed in an ammunition blast last month in the western province of Afyonkarahisar has informed the troops’ families that their loved ones were killed “by a natural disaster while on duty,” daily Hürriyet reported.
 
The letter, sent by the Turkish Armed Forces, caused distress in the relatives by stating the cause of death as a natural disaster.
 
Twenty-five soldiers were killed when an explosion took place while they were stocking ammunition in the depot late on Sept. 5. Military prosecutors announced Sept. 14 that there was no sign of sabotage, although authorities have also arrested Maj. Ali Dursun on charges of negligence in the explosion.