Attempted military coup underway in Turkey

Attempted military coup underway in Turkey

Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said a group within Turkey's military has engaged in what appeared to be an attempted coup, Daily Sabah reports.

Yildirim said on television: "it is correct that there was an attempt."

Yildirim didn't provide details, but said Turkey would never allow any "initiative that would interrupt democracy."

"Those who are in this illegal act will pay the highest price," he added.

Earlier, military jets were heard flying over the capital, Ankara.

Media reports said ambulances were seen in front of the Turkey's military headquarters.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag also confirmed a group tried to stage a coup and said the government is on duty.

Arrest warrants were issued for the soldiers who are involved in the coup attempt.

Entrance to Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul closed, military tanks deployed outside the airport, Daily Sabah writes.

Information about attempted military coup is controversial: on the background of optimistic statements by Turkish Prime Minister, there are reports that Turkish military announced that they captured building of the government, NTV reports.

Turkish military also claimed that all existing international relations will continue after the coup.

At the same time, Turkish state TV and Radio company stopped its broadcasting, Habertürk informs.

Several Turkish media reported about a shootout near Turkish General Staff in the center of Ankara. It also reported that a military helicopter opened fire near the Turkish National Intelligence Organization.

Turkish TV reports about several hostages, taken in the building of Turkish General Staff. Anadolu Agency reports about the arrest of country's Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar, who was allegedly taken hostage by the military.

As Turkish political scientist Togrul Ismail said in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza, current information is very contradicting. "The Prime Minister said that attempted military coup occured. But Turkish armed forces declared that they took control over the situation in the country for the sake of democracy. According to latest data, the head of General Staff was taken hostage by a group of soldiers who oppose the official authorities. Shots and explosions are heard in Ankara," he said.

Residence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul is under heavy guard. The president himself is currently safe, Reuters reported.

Turkey's President has also urged citizens to take to the streets in a show of support for the government after the military said it seized full control of the country, Daily Sabah wrote.

Speaking to CNN-Turk through FaceTime, he called the actions by the military "an attempt at an uprising by a minority within our armed forces."

The president's office refused to disclose Erdogan's whereabouts, saying he was at a secure location. Erdogan said "I don't believe this coup attempt will be successful."

Erdogan added: "There is absolutely no chain of command here. Right now the chain of command has been put on hold."

He currently arrived at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Anadolu Agency reports.

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