At Least 17 Dead in Turkey After Chaos Erupts Following Military Coup Attempt (UPDATE)

Chaos erupted in Turkey after the country’s military attempted a coup.

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UPDATE 12:44 a.m. ET:

The number of members of the armed forces who have been detained after the coup attempt is now up to 754, according to the state news agency.

 

UPDATE 12:24 a.m. ET: 

The death count from the coup attempt is now up to 60, according to Turkish officials, and over 330 people have been arrested. Turkey has appointed a new acting Army Chief of Staff.

UPDATE 11:34 p.m. ET:

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement about the attempted coup.

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.

UPDATE 11:09 p.m. ET: 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's plane was able to land in Istanbul. Erdogan said that the attempted coup, which the government is now claiming has failed, was a "gift from Allah," as it gave him a reason to "clean up" the military, according to CBC News. The government has declared a no-fly zone over Ankara, according to ReutersSenior government officials are claiming that there is still some resistance in Istanbul and Ankara, but that it will "end soon." 

Despite these indications that the coup is falling apart, Sky News is reporting that there are continuing bomb attacks on the Parliament building.

Erdogan blamed the coup on followers of cleric Fethullah Gülen, a controversial figure who is in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. However, Gülen's organization, the Alliance for Shared Values, has denied involvement.

There have been 42 confirmed deaths in Ankara, the BBC reports. The amount of fatalities in Istanbul is not known at this time.

UPDATE 9:15 p.m. ET:

Hillary Clinton has released a statement on Turkey calling for "calm and respect for laws, institutions, and basic human rights and freedoms..."

Hillary on the situation in #Turkey. pic.twitter.com/WwpeKFXwX1

UPDATE 8:45 p.m. ET:

Two explosions were reported at Turkish parliament.

BREAKING NEWS: 2 EXPLOSIONS ON PARLIAMENT IN ANKARA RIGHT NOW. pic.twitter.com/QXKgA3yPoo

UPDATE 7:55 p.m. ET:

A bomb has hit Turkish parliament, located in Ankara, the Associated Pressreported. Police officers and parliament workers were reportedly hurt in the explosion reported CNN Turk wrote The Guardian.

UPDATE 7:35 p.m. ET:

Anadolu Agency reported 17 police officers were killed in a helicopter attack of police special forces headquarters near Ankara.

See original story below.

A group in Turkey’s military is attempting to overthrow the government said Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim reported by The New York Times. “Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command,” said Yildirim on Broadcaster NTV. “The government elected by the people remains in charge. This government will only go when the people say so.”

An eyewitness told Reuters they heard gunshots while seeing low flying military jets and helicopters flying overhead in the Turkish capital of Ankara The Telegraph reported. Other witnesses in Istanbul also reported seeing helicopters.

According to NTV, Military members shut down the two Istanbul bridges across the Bosphorus strait, the boundary between the city’s Europe and Asia sides.

Photos show soldiers blocking Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge. The military says it has taken over Turkey pic.twitter.com/pgPVbqNmzC

Turkey’s military released a statement reported Buzzfeed News:

“Turkish Armed Forces have completely taken over the administration of the country to reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedoms, the rule of law and the general security that was damaged. All international agreements are still valid. We hope that all of our good relationships with all countries will continue.”  

İSTANBUL-BAYRAMPAŞA ŞUAN pic.twitter.com/AhjuOTA5Kl

The U.S. State Dept. confirmed gunshots in Turkey.

Confirming media reports of gunshots & possible attempted uprising in #Turkey. Remain vigilant.
Turkish government states elements of Turkish army attempting uprising.Security forces attempting to contain.Some buildings under blockade.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned the coup in a speech delivered over Facetime to CNN Türk:

Erdoğan, CNN Türk'te yapmış olduğu konuşmada: "Silahlı kuvvetler içerisindeki bir azınlığın kalkışma hareketidir"https://t.co/jfy0G2KOob

“We welcome the commitment of opposition parties, which expressed their objections to the coup attempt, to democracy,” he said reportedThe Financial Times. “I urge the Turkish people to convene at public squares and airports. There is no power higher than the power of the people. Let them do what they will at public squares and airports.”

Erdogan also said a: “chain of command has been violated. This is a step against the higher ranks… The judiciary will swiftly respond to this attack.”

Erdogan, who was on vacation, is reportedly seeking asylum in Europe U.S. military sources told NBC News reportedThe Daily Beast. Erdogan was also reportedly denied asylum in Germany. The president’s office later reported he was in a secure location but didn’t reveal his whereabouts reported the Associated Press.

People took to the streets as Erdogan urged.

İşte ordu,işte komutan! (@ Orhangazi Meydanı in Bursa w/ @gizemmiremm) https://t.co/dBZJ8JfUoG pic.twitter.com/5Lmvzjp7rT
İzmir Akın Akın Demokrasi diyor Elhamdülillah..
Darbeye Hayır #DarbecilereDarbeVakti pic.twitter.com/EKz0jk6Bd5

Military helicopters opened fire at Ankara’s National Intelligence Agency HQ reportedThe Telegraph citing state-run Anadolu News agency. Meanwhile according to Reuters tanks opened fire near the Turkish parliament building reportedThe Guardian reporting other incidents of gunfire in Ankara and Istanbul.

HUGE: Turkish soldiers and Turkish policemen clash in Istanbul, near military officers' facility. pic.twitter.com/SE8GFMVtUE
HUGE: Army helicopters firing at the Turkish Intelligence Agency MİT's headquarters in Ankara. pic.twitter.com/b6KgatyYjH

Video footage has surfaced of people running from Turkish military gunfire. Other videos show the aftermath of people being shot, allegedly by Turkish military, on the Bosphorus bridge. In the videos people are seen helping, carrying the wounded. 

The U.S. State Department confirmed Turkey’s martial law and curfew while confirming shots fired and explosions.

New Emergency Message for US citizens in #Turkey pic.twitter.com/De1c20pmrz

Barack Obama has released a statement on Turkey:

Tonight, @POTUS spoke with Secretary of State @JohnKerry about the ongoing situation in Turkey. pic.twitter.com/dcNGE0lJiN

This story is developing.

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