Turkish PM Binali Yildirim says situation “largely under control” after the coup attempt, according to Turkish television.
Turkish President Erdogan’s plane lands in Istanbul, official says.
The coup attempters tried to bomb the Turkish parliament, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency said.
Deputies in parliament also confirmed an explosion.
Further explosions were heard during a live cast broadcasting from the general assembly of the parliament, which was evacuated.
The plotters killed 17 policemen in an attack on the Gölbaşı Special Forces Department headquarters in the Turkish capital of Ankara, according to the Turkish media.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a phone interview on broadcaster CNNTürk that a “minority group” in the military has attempted a coup.
Erdoğan said the parallel state, referring to the followers of the U.S.-based scholar Fethullah Gülen, has promoted the attempt.
“We will not leave the ground to them,” he said, vowing to end the “occupation” by the group, called on the nation to unite at squares and airports. Erdoğen said he would also be on the streets.
The move is not as part of the chain of command, he said.
“I am the chief commander,” he said.
Separately, on Turkish broadcaster, Erdoğan said by phone that no attempt against himself was made.
Later, he appeared on television channels in the Aegean resort town of Marmaris, saying that the attempt was against the national will.
A large crowd gathered at Ankara’s Kızılay Avenue.
Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said the attempters will not succeed.
“Over our dead bodies,” he said, thanking all political parties and broadcasters for supporting democracy.
He called on soldiers not to obey the coup attempters, adding that this was not ordered by the chief generals.
Turkey’s First Army Commander Ümit Dündar said he contacted with the Istanbul governor from the first minute of the uprising.
Turkish Navy Chief Bülent Bostanoğlu said “As the commander staff, we openly reject this attempt.
General Staff Special Forces commander Gen. Zekai Aksakallı said “the bandits will not succeed.
The rebels are “a small group in the First Army,” he said.
“There is nothing to be worried about and all measures are being taken with the soldiers who remain in the chain of command.”
A group of civilians attempted to enter the state-run TRT, which is taken over by the group which attempted the coup, but the group inside fired at the group, wounding one person.
A military helicopter was shooting fire at the TRT building.
A group naming itself “Peace in the Country Council,” published a statement on Turkey’s state-run broadcaster TRT, which it had taken over during the July 15 coup attempt, that it has taken the power in the country.
The statement said the group so-called council will trial at “fair courts” all those “have betrayed the country.
The so-called council also declared a curfew. However, Defense Minister Fikri Işık said this was a “pirate statement,” saying that it was not linked to the military commanders.
TURKSAT, the satellite operator, had stopped the broadcast of state-run TRT TV after the statement.
Turkish media said a Turkish F-16 fighter jet downed a helicopter operated by the coup plotters.
According to reports, a helicopter shot on the General Staff headquarters in Ankara.
CNNTürk reported that two buses full of soldiers entered the headquarters of the state-run TRT in Ankara. Channels started to broadcast weather forecast only.
“This cannot be called a coup for the moment. This is an uprising,” PM Yıldırım said. The security forces are in action against this he said, in a phone call to broadcaster NTV.
“We will punish it the hardest way,” he also said.
“Our security forces will use force against force, he said.”
The head of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) said on broadcaster CNNTürk on the phone that a group of soldiers were trying to take them out of the building.He called on the citizens to hit the streets against the coup attempt, similar to pro-government papers on their websites.
Atatürk Airport has been closed to traffic, with soldiers waiting in front of it, but later reports said soldiers left the airport.
State-run Anadolu Agency said warplanes and helicopters fired two times on Ankara police center.
A number of armored vehicles have cut the main road in Istanbul, where the Istanbul police headquarters is located.
Gendarmerie has blocked entrances to bridges in Istanbul from the Anatolian to the European side of the city on July 15. f
Reports said an explosion was heard in Ankara’s Gölbaşı district.
All the major Turkish parties – CHP, MHP, HDP, and AKP have condemned the coup attempt.
Details to come…
Qadam baraho Nawaz Sharif, former President Erdogan is calling you to join him in exile. Bhaago! Bhaago!
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