Members of Turkey’s Armed Forces have seized power in the country after soldiers took control of critical positions in Istanbul and Ankara late on 15 July, prompting a retort from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that the coup would fail

Armed Forces ‘seize control’ in Turkey

At least one explosion occurred at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara, injuring 12 people, two of them seriously.  Reuters reported two more explosions at the building, while there were also reports of explosions near Taksim Square, as well as Istanbul Atatürk Airport. Elsewhere, there were reports of explosions in Üsküdar on the Asian side.

A number of air strikes were also reported at the Ankara Police Station.

An explosion was also heard at the Istanbul Police Station on Vatan Avenue in central Istanbul.

There were also battles in Istanbul’s Harbiye neighborhood, which runs toward the city’s iconic Taksim Square between police and soldiers, amid protests by pro-government demonstrators.

Soldiers calling themselves the “Peace Council” arrived at state broadcaster TRT to issue a statement saying that it had it seized power due to the government’s failures, declaring martial law and promising to draft a new constitution. The statement was later published on the Turkish Armed Forces’ website.

Police later regained control of the building.

Later in the night, armed people raided the Doğan Media Group, which operates CNN Türk and Hürriyet newspaper, forcing CNN Türk off the air. Gunshots were subsequently heard at the building as workers congregated in Hürriyet.

Earlier in the evening, Erdoğan addressed the nation with the help of news presenters who held up his FaceTime call from an unknown location to the camera. Erdoğan promised that the coup plotters would be given the necessary response. Erdoğan blamed a “minority group” tied to the Gülen movement, an erstwhile ally of the government, within the Armed Forces of attempting the coup.

The government subsequently sent text messages to all cell phones in the country, exhorting them to pour onto the street to stop the coup attempt. Imams also repeatedly issued calls to prayer from mosques, interspersed with calls for “jihad” and for people to pour onto the streets to save the government.

“This attempt will not be tolerated. Those doing this will pay the heaviest price,” Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım told the broadcaster NTV late on 15 July.

“There are groups in certain areas who are irresponsibly taking vehicles and weapons entrusted to the state, and attempting to force citizens down onto the ground,” Yıldırım said.

Yıldırım said all aircraft flying over Ankara would be shot down.

Some of those who attempted the coup later surrendered to special forces police.

Earlier in the evening, soldiers closed down access to both of Istanbul’s main bridges, telling motorists to go home.

There were also reports of gunfire in Ankara, according to Reuters, while state news agency said the Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Hulusi Akar, had been “taken hostage.”

Tanks also blocked off access to Istanbul Atatürk Airport, Europe’s third busiest airport, while soldiers also took control of Istanbul’s Taksim Square, the most iconic public space in the country.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been reported safe, according to Reuters. Anadolu Agency said Erdoğan was heading toward Atatürk Airport.

The National Police Department has ordered all units into action.

Sendika.Org