Turkish troops fire on crowds in Istanbul
F-16 downs helicopter loyal to military coup over Ankara after aircraft strike police headquarters
Turkish military forces early on Saturday opened fire on crowds gathered in Istanbul following a coup attempt, causing casualties, an AFP photographer said.
The soldiers opened fire on grounds around the first bridge across the Bosphorus dividing Europe and Asia, said the photographer, who saw wounded people being taken to ambulances.
The state-run Anadolu Agency reported Turkish Air Force planes are flying above Ankara to strike at helicopters that are being used by those attempting the coup.
Earlier Turkey’s state-run news agency reported military helicopters attacked the headquarters of TURKSAT satellite station on the outskirts of Ankara and the Ankara Police headquarters.
Private NTV television reported that F-16 jets have brought down a Sikorsky helicopter, but didn’t provide any details.
Strong blasts were heard in Ankara and jets were continuously flying over the city. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said coup plotters would “not succeed.”
NTV also showed what it said were images from a police station in Istanbul, showing military officers allegedly detained by police.
Meanwhile, the commander of Turkey’s military special forces, Gen. Zekai Aksakalli, said “those who are attempting a coup will not succeed.”
He told NTV television by telephone: “Our people should know that we will overcome this… We are in control of the situation.”
He said some deaths and injuries were reported during the coup attempt, without providing any details.
The Turkish military late Friday deployed tanks outside the parliament in the capital Ankara, the private Dogan news agency reported.
Dozens of tanks were seen moving toward a palace that is now used by the prime minister and deputy prime ministers. A civilian car tried to stop one of the tanks, but it rammed through the vehicle as those in the car escaped.