Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced today’s partial military coup against his government has failed, and that armed forces “are not governing the state, are not leading the state, and they can not. This should be known by all.”
“The government is in control” says Turkish President Erdogan to large crowd in #Istanbul https://t.co/L0RGwehN42 https://t.co/mSwhqzLj9A
— CNN (@CNN) July 16, 2016
Erdogan’s speech to supporters came as armed forces barricading Istanbul’s Bosphorus bridge laid down their arms and surrendered.
Turkish TV shows soldiers involved in coup attempt surrendering with hands raised on Istanbul’s Bosphorus bridge https://t.co/1ARJTPeTbb
— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 16, 2016
Multiple media reports peg the coup attempt’s death toll at upwards of 60, including civilians and 17 police officers.
Footage of that “disturbance” has emerged from Ankara, reportedly showing the aftermath of a coup-led airstrike on the city’s presidential palace.
#Ankara Be?tepe’de bulunan Cumhurba?kanl??? Saray? yak?nlar?na 2 F16’dan bomba at?ld?. pic.twitter.com/OL44xVUh91
— dokuz8 (@dokuz8haber) July 16, 2016
Although the majority of the violence has ceased and military headquarters have been seized by pro-government forces, several coup-led helicopters are still thought to be in operation.
Australia’s Turkish embassy have also released a statement, damning the coup and stating it was “foiled by the Turkish people in unity and solidarity.”
We’ll update this story as it develops.
