Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım late Friday said a group within Turkey’s military was engaged in what appeared to be an attempted coup.

Yıldırım said on television: “It is correct that there was an attempt.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was reported to be safe, however the official Anadolu Agency reported that the Turkish Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar was taken hostage by a group within the military.

Yıldırım didn’t provide details, but said Turkey would never allow any “initiative that would interrupt democracy.”

“Those who are in this illegal act will pay the highest price,” he added.

Earlier, military jets were heard flying over the capital, Ankara.

Media reports said ambulances were seen in front of the Turkey’s military headquarters.

Justice Minister Bozdağ also confirmed that a group tried to stage a coup and assured that the government is on duty.

Arrest warrants were issued for the soldiers who are involved in the coup attempt.

The entrance to the Atatürk International Airport in Istanbul was closed while military tanks were deployed outside the airport.

Source: www.dailysabah.com