11:13pm
Several reports of gunfire as protests grow
There is now shooting at Istanbul airport apparently.
The Turkish parliament building is surrounded by tanks.
11:03pm
Erdogan ‘at a secure location’
Turkish president’s office isn’t disclosing Erdogan’s whereabouts, saying he is at a secure location, AP reports.
11:01pm
Tank apparently heading to the PM’s office in Ankara – and is blocked by protesters
A military helicopter has reportedly opened fire over Ankara.
10:51pm
Explosion at TRT television channel HQ, according to social media reports
10:45pm
More on Erdogan statement to CNN
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urged people to take to the streets to protest against what he described as a coup attempt by a minority faction within the military, vowing that it would meet with a “necessary response”, Reuters reports
He told a CNN Turk reporter via cellphone that Turkish people must gather in public squares to show their response to the attempted military takeover, in comments broadcast live on television.
Erdogan said he believed the attempted coup would be over within a “short time” and said those responsible would pay a heavy price in the courts.
He said the act was encourage by the “parallel structure” – his shorthand for followers of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Muslim cleric who he has repeatedly accused of attempting to foment an uprising among his followers in the judiciary and the military.
10:45pm
10:43pm
Celebratory gunfire in Damascus after report of coup in Turkey
Celebratory gunfire was heard in Damascus early on Saturday after Turkey’s army said it had seized power from President Tayyip Erdogan, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s main regional opponents.
Witnesses said people also took to the streets in the Syrian capital and in the government-held section of the northern city of Aleppo.
10:41pm
10:40pm
We will not tolerate attempts to undermine our democracy
Presidential statement:
Turkey’s democratically elected president and government are in power. We will not tolerate attempts to undermine our democracy.
The illegal statement is being made by the Council for Peace in the Homeland — not the Turkish Armed Forces.
The President is in a secure location as per government protocol. A statement will be made shortly.
The President is Turkey’s commander in chief. The Turkish people, regardless of their political affiliation, will stand against this blatant attack against our democracy.
We welcome the commitment of opposition parties, which expressed their objections to the coup attempt, to democracy.
10:39pm
Palpable shock in Istanbul
The atmosphere in Istanbul was one of palpable shock, Zia Weisereports.
As military helicopters circled above the city centre and soldiers locked down roads, bridges and airport, people flocked to the streets.
Then, as it became clear that the military was attempting a takeover, some relaxed – and others panicked.
Revellers enjoying a Friday night beer in Taksim hurried home, while dozens lined up at every ATM in the upscale Cihangir neighbourhood.
Soldiers surrounded Taksim Square, appearing calm, but while some shouted in anger at them, others broke out in applause and chanted the name of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Turkish Republic’s founder.
“The current government is so bad, a lot of people expected a military takeover. I don’t know if I’m happy about this but it can’t be worse,” said Murat, who applauded the soldiers.
Another woman shouted, laughing: “The AKP is finished!” A young woman screamed: “Traitors!”
The divide in reaction might hint at what is to come. Few expected a military coup, as, after decades of military rule in the second half of the 1950, public opinion is considered as unfavourable to a takeover.
10:37pm
10:34pm
Turkey’s Erdogan urges people to take to streets
The president says he does not believe the coup will be successful and has urged people to take to the streets.
10:33pm
Foreign Office advice: avoid public places and remain vigilant
We are aware of the current developments in Turkey. We are urgently seeking more information. Until the situation becomes clearer, we advise you to avoid public places and remain vigilant.
10:30pm
Erdogan is giving his first statement
The president says this is an act encouraged by ‘parallel structure’ in interview with CNN.
He states it is an uprising attempt by a minority within the military.
10:28pm
Obama briefed on situation in Turkey
US President Barack Obama has been briefed by aides on events in Turkey, the White House said Friday, as a shock military coup attempt was underway.
“The president’s national security team has apprised him of the unfolding situation in Turkey,” said National Security Council spokesman Ned Price.
“The president will continue to receive regular updates.”
10:29pm
10:25pm
10:20pm
10:14pm
10:12pm
Turkey now under control of a ‘peace council’
State TV channel says the country is now under the control of a “peace council” that will ensure the safety of the population.
It states that democratic and secular rule of law has been eroded by the Erdogan government.
10:08pm
All airports closed
State TV channel TRT reports that all airports in Turkey are now closed.
10:07pm
Rush to withdraw money from ATMs in Turkey
10:04pm
The US secretary of state John Kerry says he hopes there will be peace, stability and unity within Turkey amid reports that a military coup is underway.
10:03pm
Soldiers ‘inside buildings of state broadcaster’
Reports that soldiers are at the HQ of state TV channel, TRT, in Ankara.
10:02pm
Soldiers are inside the buildings of the Turkish state broadcaster TRT in the country’s capital Ankara, a correspondent for that outlet tells the Reuters news agency.
10:01pm
We understand that the Turkish president is due to make a statement shortly.
10:00pm
The full Turkish military statement reads: “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 general security that was damaged.
“All international agreements are still valid. We hope that all of our good relationships with all countries will continue.”
The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is on holiday and outside the country. Reuters has quoted a source within his office as saying that he is safe.
9:58pm
Erdogan ‘safe’
A source from the presidential office has told Reuters that Erdogan is “safe”.
9:55pm
Turkey’s currency plummets
Turkey’s currency has suffered its heaviest fall in two months as investors took fright at a coup by the country’s military, Ben Martin reports.
The lira plunged as much as 3.8pc to 2.9901 against the dollar as money managers took fright at reports Turkey’s army had taken control of Ankara, the capital.
US Treasuries, a classic safe-haven investment, were in demand on Friday evening, with yields on American debt falling four basis points to 1.552pc. Bond yields move inversely to prices.
Timothy Ghriskey, of Solaris Asset Management, told Bloomberg: “The financial markets react very quickly to headlines like these, and it’s all about reducing risk.”
9:53pm
All flights from Istanbul’s Ataturk airport reportedly cancelled
All flights from Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport have been cancelled, a Reuters witness said on Friday, citing a pilot, after the military said it had taken control of the government.
9:44pm
Turkey’s top general ‘held hostage’
Reports on Turkish state news agency that the country’s top general ‘held hostage’ at military HQ.
9:42pm
Reports of clashes between police and army
Dorian Jones a British journalist based in Istanbul said:
“Tanks are seen in the streets. There are reports of clashes between the police and the army,” he told Sky News, adding there were also reports that police guarding the presidential palace had been disarmed.
“I have been speaking to various friends across the city, some are reporting that they are hearing gunfire in the streets.”
9:34pm
Turkish military claims to have overthrown Erdogan and taken control of country
In a statement, the Turkish military says the rule of law must remain the priority.
State TV TRT reportedly off the air.
9:28pm
Military jets over Istanbul
Right now in the skies of #Ankara, fighter jets flying low. Please let this be some sort of training, I’m scared. pic.twitter.com/GBOIZL1sNZ
— Marina Lourenço (@lourenco_marina) July 15, 2016
‘The army are taking over everything’
Gabriel Turner, 23, a management consultant from north London, is on holiday in Istanbul and described how there had been heavy police and security presence throughout the day before the military coup got underway after sunset.
He told The Telegraph:
“Earlier today there were police everywhere. I thought that was normal but the two Turkish girls I was with told me it wasn’t normal. We were walking around the centre of Istanbul, at the Grand Bazaar there were police at every entrance and exit with lots of guns.
“A police helicopter was flying very low at sunset, it was about 8pm. It looked like it was searching for something. Later on, at about 10.30 I was in Karakoy, a bar area in the city centre and everyone started looking at their phones. A man who owns the bar told us that the army are taking over everything.
“Then we walked down towards the a quieter area by the sea. While we were walking, my friend said the army had closed brides across the Bosphorus. We could see army helicopters in the sky.
“We went inside a cafe and everyone was on their phones looking worried, texting. Lots of people were running to catch a ferry – because the bridges were shutting and people wanted to get home. Then policemen came out of the ferries on their walkie talkies, looking very alert.”
9:20pm
Turkish broadcaster NTV shows tanks at Istanbul Ataturk airport
9:16pm
Twitter, Facebook and YouTube reportedly blocked in Turkey
9:07pm
Yildirim says “it would be wrong to call it a coup” but that there has been an attempt by “part of the military”.
He describes it as an “illegal attempt” to seize power.
Turkey would never allow any “initiative that would interrupt democracy”, he said, and promised the perpetrators “will pay the highest price”.
9:05pm
9:03pm
Meanwhile, Turkish military aircraft were heard flying low over Ankara, AFP correspondents in the capital also reported. There was no immediate explanation for the cause of the incidents.
8:56pm
Gunshots were heard in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Friday, a Reuters witness said, as military jets and helicopters were seen flying overhead.
Reuters witnesses in Istanbul, Turkey’s biggest city, also spotted helicopters overhead.
Broadcaster NTV reported that both of Istanbul’s bridges across the Bosphorus, the strait separating the European and Asian sides of the city, had been closed to traffic.
It was not immediately clear if the events were related.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk / www.theguardian.com
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