US tried to kill Erdoğan: Karagül

The United States orchestrated last week's failed coup attempt in Turkey to kill President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said Ibrahim Karagül, editor-in-chief of Turkish daily Yeni Şafak.

In a weekly

published on July 19, Karagül said the US administration directly planned Friday's coup in Turkey through the Gülen Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) “to kill the president of the Republic of Turkey".

“The operation aimed at martyring President

in Marmaris was activated through Gülen's terrorists, the assassination team," Karagül continued, “I repeat: The attack aimed at martyring Erdoğan was planned by the U.S., in the U.S., directly through Gülen's terrorists and the instructions were given by them."

Karagül's

draws worldwide attraction

His statement went viral over online media around the world when the Washington Post reported, “The U.S. tried to kill Erdoğan, says editor-in-chief of Turkish daily".

Thousands of social media users around the world liked, commented and shared that column after publishing

's social media accounts.

“This is not a secret, the US has supported five coups in Turkey since 1960 and is still supporting a coup," said one of the social media users while some others opposed the statement.

Many social media users said that it was an open secret that Washington planned to kill Erdoğan and topple the AK party government.