Death toll in Turkey coup attempt hits 161 - UPDATED, VIDEO, PHOTOS

  16 July 2016    Read: 3993
Death toll in Turkey coup attempt hits 161 - UPDATED, VIDEO, PHOTOS
The death toll stands at 161 killed and 1,440 wounded, Prime Minister Yildirim says.

That is lower than an earlier figure - calculated at 104 `plotters` plus more than 90 police and civilians.

He says the situation is "fully under control" and "our commanders are in charge". The "backbone" of the coup have been arrested, he says.

The death penalty is not in the Turkish constitution but Turkey will "consider legal changes" to "make sure this doesn`t happen again". He says "all measures" will be taken against the plotters.

He calls on the public to fill squares tonight with flags. Parliament will meet at midday.

He blames the overthrow on Gulen, the exiled cleric. Countries that stand by Gulen will not be a "friend of Turkey," he says.

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11:01

The number of people killed in an attempted coup by a faction of the Turkish military has risen to 90, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.

The agency reported that the number of wounded had also risen to 1,154.


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09:09

State-run Anadolu Agency is reporting 754 members of Turkey`s armed forces have been detained as a result of an apparently failed attempt to overthrow the nation`s government.



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At least 60 people died following an attempt to overthrow the government, according to the Turkish president`s office, and 336 have been detained.



Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to insist his government has regained control of the situation.

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The prosecutor in Ankara says at least 42 are dead following the military`s attempted overthrow of the country`s government.

Local NTV television is quoting the prosecutor`s office in saying dozens were killed in the “attacks” at the capital.

According to Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, the number of soldiers arrested over the coup has risen to 130.

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The Turkish president condemned the military`s attempted takeover of the government, saying the anti-government forces will “pay for this in the harshest way.”

“You have been given weapons by this nation and if you point your guns to the nation, that won`t be forgiven,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said when he arrived in Istanbul, his home town, early Saturday morning.

He called the attempted coup a “gift from God” because it will “help us clean our military from the members of this gang.”

So far, Erdogan says more than 120 people have been arrested over the coup.

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The Turkish president is urging citizens to take to the streets and gather in public places, showing support for the government, after the military said it seized complete control of the country.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been fairly quiet throughout the entire coup, but Turkish leadership has suggested the demonstration was unsuccessful and is “largely under control.” However, in the predawn hours, state-run TV reported bombs hitting the Turkish Parliament building in Ankara.



At the start of the takeover attempt, the state-run Anadolu Agency published a statement from the military earlier in the evening saying the armed forces have “fully seized control” of the nation. Turkey has declared martial law.


Police officers stand guard near the Turkish military headquarters on July 15, 2016 in Ankara, Turkey. Istanbul`s bridges across the Bosphorus, the strait separating the European and Asian sides of the city, have been closed to traffic. Reports have suggested that a group within Turkey`s military have attempted to overthrow the government. Security forces have been called in as Turkey`s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim denounced an `illegal action` by a military `group`, with bridges closed in Istanbul and aircraft flying low over the capital of Ankara. (Photo by Kutluhan Cucel/Getty Images)

“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 the general security that was damaged,” the military statement read. “All international agreements are still valid. We hope that all of our good relationships with all countries will continue.”

Shortly after delivering the statement, the Anadolu Agency reported that a military helicopter has attacked the Ankara police headquarters. According to the outlet, 17 officers were killed in the attack in the outskirts of Ankara.

Speaking to CNN-Turk via FaceTime, Erdogan called the military`s actions “an attempt at an uprising by a minority within our armed forces.” It was, however, unknown where the president made those comments.

Erdogan was said to be in an undisclosed but secured location. Of the attempted occupation by the military, the president said, “I don`t believe this coup attempt will be successful.”

“There is absolutely no chain of command here. Right now the chain of command has been put on hold,” he added.

The Turkish leader called on civilians to take to the streets in support of his embattled administration: “I`m making a call out to my people. … Let us gather in our squares, at our airports as the people and let that minority group come upon as with their tanks and artillery and do whatever they wish to do.”

At the start of the demonstration, military jets could be seen flying very low over Ankara, the Turkish capital. “Right now in the skies of #Ankara, fighter jets are flying low. Please let this be some sort of training, I`m scared,” one observer tweeted.

President Barack Obama has been briefed on the developments in the key NATO ally, the White House said. The National Security Council said Obama has been apprised of the “unfolding situation” in Turkey and will be receiving regular updates.

In a statement Friday evening, the commander in chief urged the support of the “democratically-elected” leadership in Turkey and called on all in the country to avoid “any violence and bloodshed.” NATO offered a similar sentiment.

There is, however, nothing in NATO`s founding 1949 Washington Treaty that says anything about allies intervening in ongoing internal political unrest. Furthermore, Turkey has maintained its membership in the group through past military coups.

Speaking from Moscow Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry offered very little information but said he hopes “there will be stability, and peace, and continuity” in the country as this military demonstration unfolds.

In the early morning, nearly three hours after the start of the attempted military occupation, gunshots could be heard on a bridge over Bosphorus, Istanbul.

President Barack Obama has been briefed on the developments in the key NATO ally, the White House said. The National Security Council said Obama has been apprised of the “unfolding situation” in Turkey and will be receiving regular updates.

In a statement Friday evening, the commander in chief urged the support of the “democratically-elected” leadership in Turkey and called on all in the country to avoid “any violence and bloodshed.” NATO offered a similar sentiment.

There is, however, nothing in NATO`s founding 1949 Washington Treaty that says anything about allies intervening in ongoing internal political unrest. Furthermore, Turkey has maintained its membership in the group through past military coups.

Speaking from Moscow Friday, Secretary of State John Kerry offered very little information but said he hopes “there will be stability, and peace, and continuity” in the country as this military demonstration unfolds.

In the early morning, nearly three hours after the start of the attempted military occupation, gunshots could be heard on a bridge over Bosphorus, Istanbul.

Tanks were also seen rolling down the streets in Turkey and some could be seen apparently cheering on top of military vehicles, though it was not immediately clear if they were supporting or resisting the government.







It did appear Turkish civilians were following Erdogan`s request that pro-government citizens take a strong, public stand in support of his leadership. Video circulating on Twitter appears to show a group of people arresting anti-government soldiers.

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