‘They will pay a heavy price for their treason’: President Erdogan vows revenge for bloody military coup after Turkish supporters of Islamist government face down tanks during botched takeover'They will pay a heavy price for their treason': President Erdogan vows revenge for bloody military coup after Turkish supporters of Islamist government face down tanks during botched takeover
WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES
- Turkish troops launched an unsuccessful military coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government
- At least 42 were killed in the bloody uprising as Erdogan supporters clashed with the military rebels on Friday
- The Turkish parliamentary building was bombed and both police and citizens were gunned down in the streets
- President Erdogan has sworn revenge on those responsible as he blamed Fethullah Gulen in Philadelphia
- 'What is being perpetrated is a rebellion and a treason,' he said warning there would be a 'heavy price' to pay
- Martial law and a curfew was imposed during conflict as U.S. citizens were warned to seek shelter and stay there
By Darren Boyle for MailOnline
President Erdogan has vowed revenge on those who tried to oust him in a bloody military coup that killed 42 people as his supporters clashed with the rebel forces in the streets of Turkey.
The Turkish president warned that the members of the military behind the attack would pay a 'heavy price for their treason' as he blamed his rival Fethullah Gulen for orchestrating the uprising.
Muslim cleric Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Saylorsburg, Philadelphia as the head of a billion dollar religious movement, has often been the scapegoat for political unrest.
As President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his triumphant return back to Istanbul after his forces quelled the coup on Friday evening, he told the gathered masses as Ataturk Airport that those loyal to Gulen had 'penetrated the Armed Forces and the police, among other government agencies, over the past 40 years.'
'What is being perpetrated is a rebellion and a treason,' Mr. Erdogan said. 'They will pay a heavy price for their treason to Turkey.'
He said the hotel on the Aegean coast where he was on holiday at the start of the coup was bombed moments after he left.
So far, 120 connected to the attempted coup have been arrested.
As military took to the streets, Erdogan urged his supporters to ignore a curfew and take back control of the country.
Tanks and armoured personnel carriers tried to seize strategic points in Istanbul and Ankara but were faced down by unarmed civilians.
However, reinforcements in tanks were blocked from the area by unarmed civilians who lay down in front of the heavy armour.
According to data on Flight Radar 24, Erdogan's private jet circled for almost 30 minutes before landing in Istanbul.
Addressing the media after landing, Erdogan said those behind the coup had committed treason and would face a 'heavy price'.
During the night, both the civilian government and the military claimed they were in control of the country, with reports of sporadic gunfire and explosions.
At least 17 police officers have been killed and several protesters have also been shot.
The dramatic coup lasted approximately five hours.
Explosions rocked the nation's parliament building as well as the police special forces headquarters, which was razed to the ground.
Despite claims the civilian government had regained control, reports from near the parliament said tanks had opened fired and blasted the building.
There are also reports of explosions at the airport.
Police and soldiers have exchanged fire in Taksim square in Istanbul.
Eyewitnesses claimed 30 soldiers in the square have surrendered to police loyal to Erdogan.
A number of F-16 fighter jets screamed across the square at low level blasting the area with a sonic boom.
The coup is believed to have been led by Colonel Muharrem Kose, who headed the military's legal advisory department.
He has been sacked according to local media.
Earlier, the Turkish military killed 17 police officers in the first reported fatalities in the army's bid to overthrow the Islamic government of Recep Erdogan.
The state-run Anadolu agency said the victims died at the special forces headquarters in Ankara.
Earlier there were reports that he building had been attacked by helicopters.
Elsewhere troops have opened fire on civilians attempting to cross the river Bosporus in Istanbul in protest to the military coup.
Soldiers seized strategic locations across Istanbul and Ankara in an effort to overthrow the Islamic president Recep Erdogan.
Also, a bomb has hit the parliament building according to the state's press agency as the security situation in the country becomes more perilous.
Several police officers and parliament workers were wounded as an explosion ripped though the building.
An eyewitness claimed the blast was 'massive' and shook nearby buildings.
Intelligence sources close to Erdogan claim the situation is back under control while factions in the military insist they are now in charge of the county.
Amid the continuing chaotic scenes, soldiers have taken control of the headquarters of the Dogan Media Group. A journalist broadcasting live on the station said she did not know how much longer she will be able to continue on the air.
According to reports, several people have been injured after troops opened fire on civilians who attempted to cross the bridge over the Bosphorous.
Erdogan urged his supporters to ignore a military curfew and take to the streets to oppose the attempted takeover.
He told followers on FaceTime to resist.
He said the uprising attempt was being run by a minority within the armed forces and said it would be met with the 'necessary response'.
It is understood that Mr Erdogan fled the country in a private jet.
The Turkish military has announced it has taken control and overthrown the government of Recep Erdogan as troops round up police and attack the capital Ankara.
The nation's national intelligence spokesman said the coup had been 'repelled', although troops and heavy armour continued to hold strategic locations in Ankara.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg backed key ally Turkey's 'democratic institutions'
He said: 'I call for calm and restraint, and full respect for Turkey's democratic institutions and its constitution. Turkey is a valued NATO Ally.'
Stoltenberg added: 'I have just spoken to the Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. I am following events in Turkey closely and with concern.'
US Secretary of State John Kerry also spoke with Cavusoglu. He stressed America supported the democratically-elected civilian government.
The Pentagon also stressed they were monitoring the situation. They said there taking steps to ensure the safety of US personnel and their families at in Incirlik airbase.s to ensure the safety and well-being of diplomatic missions and personnel and civilians throughout Turkey.
Loud explosions have been heard across Ankara with reports of an explosion occurred at the state-run television building.
Turkey's state-run news agency reported military helicopters have also attacked the headquarters of TURKSAT satellite station on the outskirts of Ankara and the Ankara Police headquarters.
Dozens of tanks were seen moving toward a palace that is now used by the prime minister and deputy prime ministers.
Also, it was claimed that internet access within Turkey has been severely restricted with social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook blocked.
A civilian car tried to stop one of the tanks, but it rammed through the vehicle as those in the car escaped.
The Istanbul based first army commander Umit Dundar claimed those involved in the coup 'represent a small group' claiming 'there is no cause for concern'.
He told the Anadolu state-run news agency: 'We are working to solve the problem here. They represent a small group within the First Army Command. There is no cause for concern. We are taking the necessary precautions with (soldiers) who have not joined them and remain within the military chain of command.'
Eyewitnesses have reported attack helicopters firing machine guns in the capital Ankara in a bid to depose the Islamic government.
Also there are reports of that a Turkish Air Force F-16 has shot down a Sikorsky helicopter over Ankara.
The government claimed the jet destroyed the helicopter which had been 'hijacked by coup plotters'.
The military said they have taken control in order to protect human rights, however, prime minister Binali Yildirim said only a 'faction' was involved.
Fast attack jets and helicopters were heard above Ankara and Istanbul after the military confirmed they had seized control of the country,.
Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge were both closed after the military deployed roadblocks.
Tracer fire from Turkish military helicopters was spotted over Ankara with fast attack jets flying combat air patrols over the city.
President Erdogan is reported 'as safe'. A spokesman for the Turkish government claimed the coup has been unsuccessful and they are still in power.
Erdogan used FaceTime to talk to a journalist on a privately run TV station to stress he was still in control of the country and warned of retaliation.
He urged the Turkish population to take to the streets and protest against he coup. The military has imposed a curfew and has ordered people to remain indoors.
Erdogan is reported to be in a 'safe location' but is believed to be in Marmaris, near the popular resort of Bodrum.
He said the uprising attempt was being run by a minority within the armed forces and said it would be met with the 'necessary response'.
There are conflicting reports that Erdogan may have fled the country on a private jet.
On FaceTime, he said: 'I certainly believe that coup plotters will not succeed. I urge the Turkish people to convene at public squares and airports. I never believed in a power higher than the power of the people.'
He said he was still president and commander in chief. He vowed the insurrectionists would pay a 'very heavy price'.
Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala says very effective units from the chief of general staff's office, the Turkish armed forces and the police are responding to the attempted coup in the country.
Ala says they are responding to 'gangs who have taken cover in certain locations'.
He spoke by telephone to NTV television and also encouraged Turkish citizens to 'fearlessly go out and support our security forces'.
He says: 'We think it would be right for them to go out to the airports, to the streets, especially to the main arteries. As long as they do that this gang's attempts... they will be defeated no matter what.'
He added 'this is a gang that considers nothing sacred, not the people or the nation. They're taking certain actions.'
Turkish police officers, believed to be loyal to the regime, have been massing near Taksim Square in Istanbul
Erdogan was elected president in 2014 after becoming prime minister in 2003 and served as the Mayor of Instanbul from 1994 to 1998.
He founded the Justice and Development Party, known as the AKP in 2001 and led it through three general elections.
He then stepped down as leader in 2003 when he was elected President.
He comes from an Islamist political background and is described as a conservative democrat.
He has proved to be a divisive character in Turkish society.
Erdogan has become increasingly unpopular with more educated and modernised people but he has denied wanting to impose Islamic values in the country.
He has said he is committed to secularism but supports people's rights to express their religious beliefs openly.
The party which he founded, AKP, suffered a dip in the polls last summer, but regained popularity again after Turkey's worst suicide bombing in history last November.
He remains well-liked among the more traditional Muslim community in Turkey, who supported his bids to criminalise adultery and introduce alcohol-free zones in the country although they ultimately failed.
Mr Erdogan owes much of his political success to the stable economy over the last decade.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin was 'deeply concerned about the news coming from Turkey'.
Peskov said Putin was being briefed by foreign ministry and intelligence services.
The Foreign Office has advised British citizens in Turkey to avoid public places
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted that he was 'very concerned' by the events unfolding in Turkey.
He said: 'Our Embassy is monitoring the situation closely. Brits should follow FCO website for advice.'
Each year 2.5 million Britons travel to Turkey for a holiday.
However, following a string of terrorist attack, visitor numbers have collapsed by approximately 35 percent.
In a statement sent by email and reported on Turkish TV channels, the military said all of Turkey's existing foreign relations would be maintained and that the rule of law would remain the priority.
According to the military tonight's action will 'reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for the law and order to be reinstated'.
The military statement went on to say that 'all international agreements and commitments will remain. We pledge that good relations with all world countries will continue'.
According to the address read out of state TV: 'A curfew has been imposed until a second order.'
The military signed the statement on behalf of the 'Council for Peace in the Homeland'.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said he hoped the crisis in Turkey would soon be resolved while preserving peace, stability and a respect for 'continuity'.
Turkey's top general has been taken hostage at the military headquarters in the capital Ankara after an attempt to bring down the government, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
'General Hulusi Akar has been taken hostage by a group in the military who attempted an uprising.'
President Erdogan has vowed to retaliate against the military. He appeared on a private TV station on a mobile phone which was held up to the camera. He is currently in an undisclosed location.
His officials claimed that Turkey's democratically elected government and president remain in power.
There are conflicting reports on whether Erdogan is still in the country. His prime minister has vowed to 'retaliate in kind'.
Troops have rounded up police officers loyal to the government, according to witnesses.
CNN Turkey showed two military vehicles and a group of soldiers lined up at the entrance of one of the bridges in Turkey's biggest city.
A Turkish official who did not want to be named said soldiers had been deployed in other cities in Turkey, but did not specify which ones.
Dogan News Agency reported the national police directorate summoned all police to duty in Ankara.
Turkish fighter jets have been reported over Ankara.
The military said they have moved due to 'rising autocratic rule and increased terrorism'.
Gunfire has been reported with fast attack jets lying combat air patrols over Ankara.
Yildirim on Friday denounced what he said was an 'illegal attempt' by elements in the military after bridges were partially shut down in Istanbul and jets flew low over Ankara.
'We are working on the possibility of an attempt. We will not allow this attempt,' he told NTV television by telephone, without expanding on the nature of the move but saying it was by a group in the Turkish military.
'Those who are in this illegal act will pay the highest price,' he added, saying it would not be correct to describe the move as a 'coup'.
Yildirim did not provide details, but said Turkey would never allow any 'initiative that would interrupt democracy'.
Earlier, military jets were heard flying over the capital, Ankara.
Media reports said ambulances were seen in front of Turkey's military headquarters.
Fast attack jets and helicopters have been reported over Ankara.
Gunshots have reportedly been heard near the presidential palace in Ankara.
The mayor of Ankara has also reportedly called people onto the streets.
Yildirim didn't provide details, but said Turkey would never allow any 'initiative that would interrupt democracy.'
'We are focusing on the possibility of an attempt (coup),' Yildirim said. 'There was an illegal act by a group within the military that was acting out of the chain of military command. Our people should know that we will not allow any activity that would harm democracy.'
Earlier, military jets were heard flying over the capital, Ankara.
The Dogan news agency says one-way traffic on the Bosporus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges were blocked. Video footage showed the bridge being blocked by military vehicles.
All flights into Ankara and Istanbul have been cancelled.
The Saudi foreign minister in Washington said he is not willing to speculate as to what is currently happening.
All flights from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport have been cancelled/
Turkey's armed forces said on Friday they had taken power in the country to protect the democratic order and to maintain human rights.
The government claims the coup has not been successful however the military said have taken full control of the country
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Turkey to avoid all 'bloodshed' amid reports of a coup.
In a joint press conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Lavrov said that 'problems in Turkey need to be resolved in accordance with the constitution'.
S oldiers blocked entry to Ataturk Airport where four tanks were stationed
Two other tanks and a military vehicle were stationed in front of the VIP terminal. The report said the soldiers had entered the tower and stopped all flights.
News reports said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was safe and would make a televised statement soon.
Turkey is an important member of NATO in a vital strategic location.
According to the White House: 'The president's national security team has apprised him of the unfolding situation in Turkey. The president will continue to receive regular updates.'
There are reports of major explosions in Ankara at the site of the Turkish state TV station.
European airlines have begun diverting aircraft that were en-route to Turkish airports after being alerted to the coup.
HISTORY OF TURKISH COUPS: MILITARY HAS PREVIOUS HISTORY OF OVERTHROWING THE CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT
The Turkish army regards itself as the protector of Turkish democracy, a philosophy made up of secular ideals created by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk - the founder of the modern Turkish Republic.There have been three major coups in the past 50 years with thousands killed as a result of military intervention and social and political unrest.1960The first coup took place in 1960 as political tension reached boiling point between the government, led by prime minister Adnan Menderes and president Celal Bayar, the opposing parties and the armed forces.The administration began to re-open mosques and opened new religious schools as well as calling for people to pray in Arabic rather than Turkish. It also imposed new press laws banning critical articles in newspapers.After periods of unrest Menderes was forced to employ martial law. The government was eventually toppled and the president, prime minister and several cabinet members were arrested. Menderes was later executed.1971While there was not a coup in 1971, events in this period would contribute to military intervention in nine years time.Turkey had sunk into a recession, with their currency failing - causing protests in the streets with often violent demonstrations and attacks from right-wing organisations.The military intervened and prime minister, Suleyman Demirel resigned with a right-wing temporary government put in place.1980The 1970s were a time of immense political and social unrest in Turkey with thousands being killed and 11 prime ministers taking control.A military coup was announced on TV in September 1980 with the army establishing martial law.The government was dissolved and naval officer Bulend Ulusu became prime minister for three year,s before he was succeeded by Turgut Ozal.While there was a stability that came with the military rule but hundreds of thousands of people were executed, tortured or went missing during this period.1997After the Islamist Welfare Party took power in 1996 the armed forces suggested a series of policies that it urged the Government to take.The following year it ensured changes including a headscarf ban at universities and an eight-year education programme to ensure that young people did not enrol at religious schools - were put in place.Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan resigned and was slapped with a five-year ban from politics.
