Martial Law, Curfew Imposed in Turkey Amid Coup Attempt
A coup was attempted in Turkey Friday with the military taking over state TV there, imposing martial law and a curfew and reportedly attacking the police headquarters in the capital of Ankara, according to American and foreign officials.
It was not clear who was behind the attempted coup and reports say the Turkish Chief of Army is in detention. But a broadcaster for state TV read a letter from a group calling itself the "Turkish peace council" saying that martial law is being imposed.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that security forces were doing what is necessary to resolve the situation and the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose whereabouts were unknown, urged supporters to take to the streets in defiance, saying that Turkey cannot "be run from Pennsylvania," a reference to a political opponent of his who is exiled in the United States.
Speaking on Turkish television, Yildirim said the military leadership has ordered all soldiers back to their bases. The prime minister called those behind the coup "traitors" and called the move "a terrorist act."
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported that a military helicopter has attacked Ankara police headquarters. It was not clear if there were any injuries. Other clashes and explosions have also been heard in the city, while video posted to Twitter show military jets flying over the city.
The Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Istanbul have been closed and Turkey’s Dogan News Agency reports the national police directorate has summoned all police to duty in Ankara.
At first, the scene at Taksim Square, a popular tourist destination in Istanbul, was tense but calm, and people were lining up at ATMs to withdraw cash and buying bread and water in case services go down, an eyewitness told ABC News. Shortly after, pro-military chants started to take place in the square, and then shots were fired, forcing people to leave, she said.
In a FaceTime interview with CNN Turk, Erdogan called on his supporters to gather in the country's squares and airports.
"We will give a strong reply to the leader of the coup," Erdogan said. "I declare those responsible will receive the highest penalty.”
Erdogan's whereabouts are unclear, but he's reported to have been at his summer house in the south of Turkey.
A senior defense official told ABC News that the Department of Defense is concerned about the situation and is trying to assess the facts. More than 2,000 US servicemembers and civilian employees are stationed in Turkey.
A coup was attempted in Turkey Friday with the military taking over state TV there, imposing martial law and a curfew and reportedly attacking the police headquarters in the capital of Ankara, according to American and foreign officials.
It was not clear who was behind the attempted coup and reports say the Turkish Chief of Army is in detention. But a broadcaster for state TV read a letter from a group calling itself the "Turkish peace council" saying that martial law is being imposed.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that security forces were doing what is necessary to resolve the situation and the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose whereabouts were unknown, urged supporters to take to the streets in defiance, saying that Turkey cannot "be run from Pennsylvania," a reference to a political opponent of his who is exiled in the United States.
Speaking on Turkish television, Yildirim said the military leadership has ordered all soldiers back to their bases. The prime minister called those behind the coup "traitors" and called the move "a terrorist act."
Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported that a military helicopter has attacked Ankara police headquarters. It was not clear if there were any injuries. Other clashes and explosions have also been heard in the city, while video posted to Twitter show military jets flying over the city.
The Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Istanbul have been closed and Turkey’s Dogan News Agency reports the national police directorate has summoned all police to duty in Ankara.
At first, the scene at Taksim Square, a popular tourist destination in Istanbul, was tense but calm, and people were lining up at ATMs to withdraw cash and buying bread and water in case services go down, an eyewitness told ABC News. Shortly after, pro-military chants started to take place in the square, and then shots were fired, forcing people to leave, she said.
In a FaceTime interview with CNN Turk, Erdogan called on his supporters to gather in the country's squares and airports.
"We will give a strong reply to the leader of the coup," Erdogan said. "I declare those responsible will receive the highest penalty.”
Erdogan's whereabouts are unclear, but he's reported to have been at his summer house in the south of Turkey.
A senior defense official told ABC News that the Department of Defense is concerned about the situation and is trying to assess the facts. More than 2,000 US servicemembers and civilian employees are stationed in Turkey.
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