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Turkey military coup: Erdoğan says ‘we will overcome this’ – live updates Turkey military coup: tanks open fire near parliament building – live updates
(35 minutes later)
11.48pm BST
23:48
Here’s a live-stream looking onto the Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul:
11.42pm BST
23:42
The US state department has issued an “emergency alert” for Americans in Turkey, saying:
Shots fired and explosions have been heard in Ankara and both bridges in Istanbul, the Bosphorous and Faith Sultan Mehmet, are now closed. Martial law and a curfew have been imposed in Turkey. All flights at Atatürk Istanbul airport have been suspended.
The statement notes that although there are reports that social media may be blocked, US citizens should attempt to contact family and friends by phone or email.
New Emergency Message for US citizens in #Turkey pic.twitter.com/De1c20pmrz
Updated
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11.36pm BST
23:36
Tanks open fire - reports
Alan Yuhas
Tanks have opened fire near the Turkish parliament building, Reuters reports, following similar reports from NTV and local journalists about gunfire in Ankara and Istanbul.
Protesters have heard Erdoğan’s call to take to the streets, though, and some are chanting “shoulder to shoulder against the coup”. Others have squared off with military forces who’ve closed bridges and streets. In one video, a policeman and military officer argue in a crowd in the street; in another, cars jammed in traffic honked horns in unison as people mill among them. In a third, a crowd sings and lifts up a huge Turkish flag.
Police now arresting the Army. #Turkey has gone crazy - @AboShla5Libralypic.twitter.com/hucBFou1Vf
Photos posted on social media shows protesters climbing onto a tank and challenging the military, and live video, streaming on Facebook, showed throngs of people in the streets around the country.
DURUM| Tankların üstünde siviller var, askerlere müdahale ediliyor pic.twitter.com/gE0eMQj58P
Updated
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11.29pm BST
23:29
Paul Lewis
Prof Omer Taspinar, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution who has repeatedly warned of a military coup in Turkey in recent months, said a critical question would be the degree to which the entire military command was involved in the attempted coup:
The situation is really fluid. Right now the question is whether the attempted coup is from the top command, with the top brass involved, or a colonel-level or officer-coup, from a certain segment of the army. There are indications right now that it is the latter. The chief of staff of the military has not spoken yet and traditionally with Turkish coups you would expect the head of the military to be on TV taking command.”
He continued: “This will rattle the Turkish markets. It will tarnish the country’s image. My analysis is that this will certainly be embarrassing for the country’s recently re-elected president, Recep Erdoğan. The signs are chaotic right now but I think the rumors of Erdoğan’s demise would be highly exaggerated given he has been on TV.”
Taspinar said the most dangerous risk was a breakout in fighting between divisions within the Turkish military and police forces and intelligence factions aligned between with Erdoğan’s interior ministry. “I don’t expect that to happen, but if it does it would be devastating to Turkey.”
Updated
at 11.32pm BST
11.25pm BST
23:25
What we know so far
Sam Levin
Updated
at 11.35pm BST
11.11pm BST11.11pm BST
23:1123:11
Here’s video of the incredible moment of Erdogan using FaceTime to broadcast his message. Here’s video of the incredible moment of Erdoğan using FaceTime to broadcast his message.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan FaceTimes with TV station, says uprising will be unsuccessful https://t.co/MOl43YZhRPTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan FaceTimes with TV station, says uprising will be unsuccessful https://t.co/MOl43YZhRP
Updated
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11.07pm BST11.07pm BST
23:0723:07
Erdogan statement on FaceTime Erdoğan statement on FaceTime
Alan YuhasAlan Yuhas
President Erdogan called on Turks to take to the streets in a surreal interview with CNN Türk, in which he was forced to speak to the network via a mobile phone and FaceTime. President Erdoğan called on Turks to take to the streets in a surreal interview with CNN Türk, in which he was forced to speak to the network via a mobile phone and FaceTime.
Erdogan making a statement via Facetime pic.twitter.com/cLVxL20fSgErdogan making a statement via Facetime pic.twitter.com/cLVxL20fSg
I urge the Turkish people to gather at public squares and airports. ... There is no power higher than the power of the people.”I urge the Turkish people to gather at public squares and airports. ... There is no power higher than the power of the people.”
He added that he believes the coup attempt will be thwarted soon, and that there will be a “strong response” to those responsible for the coup attempt. They will receive the “heavy price”, he said.He added that he believes the coup attempt will be thwarted soon, and that there will be a “strong response” to those responsible for the coup attempt. They will receive the “heavy price”, he said.
The president was speaking from an undisclosed location, and NBC News, citing an anonymous US military source, said that his plane had been refused landing rights in Istanbul.The president was speaking from an undisclosed location, and NBC News, citing an anonymous US military source, said that his plane had been refused landing rights in Istanbul.
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10.59pm BST10.59pm BST
22:5922:59
Boris Johnson echoing the earlier statement from Foreign office officials: Boris Johnson echoing the earlier statement from Foreign Office officials:
Very concerned by events unfolding in #Turkey. Our Embassy is monitoring the situation closely. Brits should follow FCO website for adviceVery concerned by events unfolding in #Turkey. Our Embassy is monitoring the situation closely. Brits should follow FCO website for advice
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10.53pm BST10.53pm BST
22:5322:53
Patrick KingsleyPatrick Kingsley
A presidential source has said: “This is a coup attempt by the Gulen movement, at which several known Gulenists hinted in recent months. The perpetrators have violated the chain in command.”A presidential source has said: “This is a coup attempt by the Gulen movement, at which several known Gulenists hinted in recent months. The perpetrators have violated the chain in command.”
Here’s an interesting piece on the Gulenist movement.Here’s an interesting piece on the Gulenist movement.
10.52pm BST10.52pm BST
22:5222:52
BREAKING Turkish President Erdoğan blames #Gulenist network & calls on public to go to public squares and airports. pic.twitter.com/vmQlYLyv35BREAKING Turkish President Erdoğan blames #Gulenist network & calls on public to go to public squares and airports. pic.twitter.com/vmQlYLyv35
10.50pm BST
22:50
David Smith
John Kerry, the secretary of state, said he had heard the reports but could not comment. “I hope there will be stability and peace and continuity within Turkey,” he said while visiting Moscow.
Ned Price, spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, said: “The president’s national security team has apprised him of the unfolding situation in Turkey. The president will continue to receive regular updates.”
Turkey has the second biggest army in Nato after the US. It was a crucial ally during the cold war, although relations hit a bump in March 2003 when Turkey refused to let the US to invade Iraq from the north through Turkish territory.
Now they are military partners, albeit with significant political differences, in the fight against Islamic State. Last year Turkey agreed to let US warplanes and armed drones use the Incirlik air base, just 60 miles from the northwest Syrian border, to carry out raids against Isis. The aircraft had previously flown from Iraq or Arab allies such as Jordan.
Loss of the Turkish base would be a severe blow to the ongoing effort against Isis, especially after recent terrorist attacks within Belgium, France, Turkey and the US itself.
Turkey, which by the end of 2015 was hosting 2.5 million refugees, mostly from neighbouring Syria, has objected to US support for Kurdish forces operating in northern Syria against Isis. Washington has said it draws a clear distinction between the PKK, a foreign terrorist organisation, and the Syrian Kurds, whom it sees as one of many groups fighting Isis.
Mark Toner, deputy spokesperson for the US State Department, said last month: “Turkey is playing an important role with regard to Syria, with regard to the conflict there, both from the Assad regime as well as with Daesh [Isis]. So I don’t want to underplay that. But they have, as many countries do within the coalition, sometimes different priorities, different ideas about how to go about that, and that’s something we’re in constant dialogue with them about and working to coordinate better.”
10.45pm BST
22:45
This is how the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the nation amid a military coup this evening:
Erdoğan addressing the nation like this #Turkey pic.twitter.com/Y7UYjazQZN
My colleague Alan Yuhas says that Erdoğan said believed the coup attempt would be thwarted soon and that there would be a “strong response” to those responsible for the coup attempt. They will pay a “heavy price”, he said.
The president was speaking from an undisclosed location and NBC News, citing an anonymous US military source, said that his plane had been refused landing rights in Istanbul.
Updated
at 10.48pm BST
10.41pm BST
22:41
The Foreign Office has advised British citizens in Turkey to avoid public places and remain vigilant until the situation there becomes clearer. A statement read: “We are concerned by events unfolding in Ankara and Istanbul.”
Updated
at 10.50pm BST
10.39pm BST
22:39
Access to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube was restricted in Turkey on Friday, shortly after news broke that the military coup was under way, according to two internet monitoring groups.
Reuters reported that Turkey Blocks, a group that monitors internet shutdowns in the country, and Dyn, which monitors internet performance and traffic globally, both said it was difficult or impossible to access social media services in Turkey.
The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has previously restricted access to some social media platforms.
Updated
at 10.50pm BST
10.37pm BST
22:37
The Turkish state broadcaster TRT has now gone off air, say the Reuters news agency and sources in Turkey.
10.29pm BST
22:29
The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that the coup is the work of a minority within the military.
Speaking to CNN Turk, he adds: “We will overcome this.”
Updated
at 11.01pm BST
10.27pm BST
22:27
My colleague Ghaith Abdul-Ahad is in Istanbul. He reports that there is chaos on the main thoroughfare Istiklal, with people running in all directions.
Restaurants and shops are closing, somtehing is happening on Taksim Square and Tarlabashi Boulevard seems to be closed.
Cars are honking their horns and driving on the wrong side of the road. A lot of people are walking from the direction of Taksim. There is a sense of agitation, with people checking their phones or listening to the radio.
10.26pm BST
22:26
UPDATE —Turkish citizens reacting to coup attempt begin pouring onto streets across Turkey https://t.co/1JCtBz38UR pic.twitter.com/RsFSh5krAT
10.25pm BST
22:25
More details from the statement read out on the state broadcaster TRT at the behest of the military faction that seems to be behind the coup: It says that the freedom of Turkish citizens is guaranteed by what is referred to as a “peace council”, regardless of religion, race or language.
It says the Peace Council will not allow public order to be damaged.
It is worth remembering at this point that the Turkish government still claims to be in charge.
An EU source monitoring events has told Reuters that military forces have control of airports and strategic points in Istanbul.
10.22pm BST
22:22
Updated
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