He also said that fighter jets have been dispatched to eliminate a helicopter attacking the parliament building in Ankara.
Advertisement
He said an uprising attempt had been made from a minority in the military saying it was an act encouraged by a “parallel structure”.
Mr Yildirim also told broadcaster NTV that a no-fly zone had been declared over the capital, Ankara.
People demonstrate in front of the Republic Monument at Taksim Square in Istanbul on July 16.
A military coup is underway in Turkey, and Turkey’s state news agency is reporting that 17 police officers were killed, in a helicopter attack at a special forces headquarters, in the outskirts of the country’s capital, Ankara. Turkish officials refuted reports, claiming the coup was unsuccessiful. Speaking on national television from Istanbul, Erdogan said the government was arresting coup supporters in the military and “they will pay a heavy price for their treason to Turkey”, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by his office.
While the whereabouts of the Turkish president are still unknown, there have been unconfirmed reports that his plane has been flying across Europe.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord (Menzies) Campbell told the Press Association: “It should come as little surprise that the army which sees itself as the proud guardian of the secular tradition in Turkey, has responded to President Erdogan in this way. Our people should know that we will not allow any activity that would harm democracy”, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.
But the sounds of explosions and continued to ring out in the capital.
United States citizens in #Turkey should shelter in place & stay indoors.
Erdogan also claimed that the coup was organized by someone “outside the chain of command” within the military.
The U.S. works with Turkey on multiple crises in the recent. Video footage showed the bridge being blocked by military vehicles. Jets are reportedly flying over the city, and gun shots have been heard near the president complex in Ankara.
Dogan News Agency reported that police in Ankara called personnel to their officers.
There were scattered reports of gunfire, and Reuters cited a witness who said a military helicopter began shooting in Ankara. Yilmaz added that Gen. Hulusi Akar, the military chief of staff, was back in control and “everything is returning to normal”. “We have no reason to think we’ve been fully blocked in #Turkey, but we suspect there is an intentional slowing of our traffic in country”, the company said in a statement posted on its official public policy account. Sites such as YouTube and Facebook are frequently blacked out in the country.
Advertisement
Just over an hour after soldiers were seen on the streets, a statement issued in the name of the military said: “Turkish Armed Forces have completely taken over the administration of the country to reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedoms, the rule of law and general security that was damaged”.
