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Turkey coup: 'more than 100 plotters killed' in failed uprising – live updates Turkey coup: 'more than 100 plotters killed' in failed uprising – live updates
(35 minutes later)
10.23am BST
10:23
Coup was a black stain for Turkish demoncracy - PM
Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirum is addressing the media in Ankara. He says the coup was a “black stain” on Turkish democracy.
Yildirum calls the coup-plotters terrorists, but says the nation has answered their attempt effectively.
10.20am BST
10:20
Turkey’s government has the coup situation “90% under control”, although some military commanders are still being held hostage by the plotters, the EU minister, Omer Celik, has said.
Celik’s comments were broadcast live on the private channel NTV.
Updated
at 10.24am BST
10.14am BST
10:14
Turkish Airlines has said its operations at Istanbul Ataturk airport have returned to normal and flights are resuming, according to the Press Association.
Updated
at 10.24am BST
10.02am BST
10:02
Turkey’s state run press agency Anadolu is reporting that soldiers who have taken over the Chief of General Staff Headquarters as part of an attempted coup have requested negotiations to surrender.
According to a Turkish official at the presidency, that is the last base the coup supporters hold.
10.00am BST
10:00
The UK’s recently-appointed foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, has been speaking to Sky News. He said:
We’ve been following the developments in Turkey and we’re concerned about what’s been going on there.
First we want to urge calm and the avoidance of any further bloodshed. It’s crucial we respect the democratic institutions of Turkey.
That’s a message that was very much echoed by the Turkish foreign minister, my counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, to whom I spoke a couple of hours ago. He was very grateful for UK support at the UN and elsewhere.
Obviously I’ve spoken to our diplomatic staff in Ankara and in Istanbul. They’re doing a fantastic job. They’re working very hard, as you can imagine, to do the best for the many Brits who are there, the many people who are there on holiday. They should follow the travel advice and we’ll do our best to update you as soon as we can.
Updated
at 10.04am BST
9.56am BST
09:56
Airspace over Turkey’s northwest Marmara region has been closed to civilian flights, which will resume at 6.05pm GMT, according to the Anadolu, the Turkish state-run press agency.
9.54am BST
09:54
The Russian foreign ministry has released a statement warning that the coup poses an “increased danger” to international and regional stability. It said:
The aggravating political situation (in Turkey) against the backdrop of existing terrorist threats in this country and an armed conflict in the region pose increased danger to international and regional stability.
Forces loyal to the Turkish government fought on Saturday to crush the remnants of a military coup attempt which crumbled after crowds answered President Tayyip Erdogan’s call to take to the streets and dozens of rebels abandoned their tanks.
9.48am BST9.48am BST
09:4809:48
Former British Army chief of general staff Lord Dannatt says it is important that Britain is able to work with Turkey “reliably and dependably” given its role fighting Islamic State in neighbouring Syria and Iraq. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:Former British Army chief of general staff Lord Dannatt says it is important that Britain is able to work with Turkey “reliably and dependably” given its role fighting Islamic State in neighbouring Syria and Iraq. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
Of course Turkey is an important Nato ally, where Turkey sits vis-a-vis the fight against Isil’s so-called Islamic State is absolutely critical.Of course Turkey is an important Nato ally, where Turkey sits vis-a-vis the fight against Isil’s so-called Islamic State is absolutely critical.
Yes of course it’s got its own internal divisions and difficulties vis-a-vis the Kurdish aspect of that conflict but it’s really important that we can work reliably and dependably with Turkey because Turkey is an important part in this fight, really critical fight, to defeat Islamic State.Yes of course it’s got its own internal divisions and difficulties vis-a-vis the Kurdish aspect of that conflict but it’s really important that we can work reliably and dependably with Turkey because Turkey is an important part in this fight, really critical fight, to defeat Islamic State.
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09:3709:37
9.33am BST9.33am BST
09:3309:33
Here’s a breakdown of the death toll in the Turkish coup, as provided by General Umit Dundar, the newly appointed acting chief of the general staff. More than 190 people dead:Here’s a breakdown of the death toll in the Turkish coup, as provided by General Umit Dundar, the newly appointed acting chief of the general staff. More than 190 people dead:
9.27am BST9.27am BST
09:2709:27
Piero Castellano is a photojournalist based in Ankara.Piero Castellano is a photojournalist based in Ankara.
He told the BBC that after President Erdogan appeared on TV, Turks surged onto the streets.He told the BBC that after President Erdogan appeared on TV, Turks surged onto the streets.
People rushed to the main square, to rush to the tanks and the armoured carriers - it was a bloodbath. It was unexpected.People rushed to the main square, to rush to the tanks and the armoured carriers - it was a bloodbath. It was unexpected.
There is a very strong link, or maybe there was until last night, there was a very strong link between the Turkish people and their military.There is a very strong link, or maybe there was until last night, there was a very strong link between the Turkish people and their military.
So people were shocked when the military actually fired on the crowd.So people were shocked when the military actually fired on the crowd.
9.23am BST
09:23
Labour’s election co-ordinator Jon Trickett, an ally of Jeremy Corbyn, has faced criticism for making a joke on Twitter, in which he likened the Turkish coup to the leadership challenge within the Labour party.
At least 90 dead, more than 1,000 injured in the real coup. Suspect this tweet will be deleted very soon. pic.twitter.com/aDHOik0LQp
As the Huffington Post’s Paul Waugh predicted, Trickett did later delete the tweet and apologised.
Okay okay. Tweet deleted and withdrawn. Shouldn't tweet when feeling I'll. I apologise sincerely
Updated
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9.12am BST
09:12
Patrick Kingsley
Acting chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Umit Dundar, the loyalist who was appointed overnight following the alleged kidnapping of his precedessor by coup forces, has given a speech in Turkey claiming that the coup has failed.
In a reference to Turkey’s four previous coups in recent decades, Dundar promised that the army had “irreversibly closed the chapter of military coups.”
He said: “The people have taken to the streets and voiced their support for democracy. Turkey displayed a historic cooperation between the government and the people. The nation will never forget this betrayal. Turkey has irreversibly closed the chapter of military coups.”
He added: “The armed forces is determined to remove members of the Gulen movement from its ranks. We will continue to serve the people. I would like to thank all political parties and the media for their support for democracy. Those who betrayed their country will not go unpunished.”
Updated
at 9.14am BST
9.10am BST
09:10
104 coup plotters killed - acting chief of military staff
Umit Dundar, who has been appointed acting chief of military staff, has said 104 coup plotters have been killed, according to Reuters.
Dundar said the coup plotter death toll is on top of the 90 people declared as dead, including 47 civilians.
A further 1154 people have been wounded.
8.56am BST
08:56
As we’ve heard, coup plotters attempted to take over the state news channel TRT and was able to read a statement on air.
Carlos van Meek, director of news at state news channel TRT, described the moment he was stopped from broadcasting by coup plotters. He told the BBC:
We were taken off air in our headquarters in Ankara and at our secondary location in Istanbul.
I run the English language service. Our teams there were forced to leave the building, they cut the cord and took us off air.
At least for the group in Istanbul, I can speak to the group specifically, there phones were confiscated as well so we can’t get in touch with many of our staff, our Outlook is down, so it has been quite complicated just talking to the folks who were in the newsroom at the time.
It has been a scary night for my staff and people who work at the other channels of TRT but fortunately no one was hurt and everyone is safe at home from what I understand.
8.45am BST
08:45
Footage of the Turkish Army chief, General Hulusi Akar, being rescued has been posted on the Twitter account belonging to Turkish PM Binali Yildirim.
"Genelkurmay Başkanımız Hulusi Akar sağ salim kurtarıldı ve şu anda Çankaya'da kriz merkezinde görevinin başındadır" pic.twitter.com/cVpDChEd1X
8.42am BST
08:42
The Turkish Embassy in London has released a statement.
The situation unfolded in Turkey was a coup attempt to overthrow the democratically-elected government. This attempt was foiled by the Turkish people in unity and solidarity.
Our president and government are in charge. Turkish armed forces was not involved in the coup attempt in its entirety. It was conducted by a clique within the armed forces and received a well-deserved response from our nation.
8.39am BST
08:39
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has warned that flights to Turkey are being diverted or cancelled.
#Turkey Some flights to airports in Turkey are being diverted or cancelled. Check latest FCO Travel Advice https://t.co/3RQE0ngQEf
Updated
at 8.43am BST
8.34am BST
08:34
Eyewitness accounts to the dramatic, and confusing, events in Turkey overnight are filtering through. British-Turkish writer Alev Scott, 29, who lives about 200 metres from the square, spoke to the Press Association about her night.
I went through Taksim Square and there were soldiers and police.
It was fairly quiet - a bit of shouting. There aren’t normally lots of soldiers, just some police, but recently there have been some soldiers there and I wonder if that was connected.
When I got home I heard there was shooting in Taksim Square and I started hearing the gunfire and the call to prayer - but it wasn’t the call to prayer - it was completely the wrong time of night.
I don’t know whether they were calling people to the streets - it could be.
So then I was watching things from my terrace, watching the military vehicles on the Bosphorus Bridge and then these sonic booms started.
It was actually quite scary so I went down into my flat just keeping away from the windows which had all blown open.
8.32am BST
08:32
Here’s some video of Turkish police attempting to arrest soldiers involved in the coup before being overrun by civilians. WARNING: some viewers may find the images distressing.
cnn'de darbecilere önce polis, sonra siviller müdahale etti pic.twitter.com/fiw5jVRC9v
8.27am BST
08:27
Jamie Grierson
Hello, Jamie Grierson here. The UK’s new foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, has confirmed on Twitter that he has spoken to Turkey’s foreign minister.
Just spoken to #Turkey foreign minister @MevlutCavusoglu. I underlined #UK support for the democratic elected government & institutions