Military coup attempt in Turkey

ISTANBUL: An element in the Turkish military has started a coup to depose the nation’s government, prime minister Binali Yildirim has said.

Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge were both closed yesterday without reason.

Dogan News Agency showed cars and buses being diverted.

CNN Turkey showed two military vehicles and a group of soldiers lined up at the entrance of one of the bridges.

A Turkish official who did not want to be named said soldiers had been deployed in other cities in Turkey, but did not specify which ones.

Dogan reported the national police directorate summoned all police to duty in Ankara.

Turkish fighter jets were reportedly heard over Ankara. Gunfire has also been reported.

Yildirim yesterday denounced an “illegal attempt” by elements in the military.

“We are working on the possibility of an (coup) attempt. We will not allow this,” he told NTV television, without expanding on the nature of the move but saying it was by a group in the Turkish military.

“Those who are in this illegal act will pay the highest price,” he added, saying it would not be correct to describe the move as a coup.

Yildirim did not provide details, but said security forces had been called in to “do what is necessary”.

“Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command,” Yildirim said. “The government elected by the people remains in charge.”

Meanwhile, a military helicopter last night opened fire at an unknown target near the building of the National Intelligence Organization in Ankara, Dogan reported. – Daily Mail