The army of Turkey claims to have taken control of the country. A brigade has stopped all traffic and closed the Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Bosphorus bridges leading to the Istanbul, one of the country's prominent state and tourist destination.
Fighter jets are flying at low altitude over the capital city of Ankara.
Prime minister Binali Yildirim criticized the military's coup attempt as illegeal and claimed that government remains in charge. Earlier CNN has reported that president Recep Tayyip Erdoga remains safe.
Gunshots have also been reported by residents at the capital Ankara. Gunshots were heard near the police headquarters in Istanbul. The army has taken position outside the Istanbul airport; all flights have been cancelled due to the turmoil situation.
Turkey's national television channel broadcasted a statement from an army group which says:
The power in the country has been seized in its entirety." Who represents the group remains uncertain.
However a presidential source of Reuters said that the statement was unauthorized by the military command.
PM Yildirim told national television by phone:
We are working on the possibility of an attempt. We will not allow this attempt. Those who are in this illegal act will pay the highest price. 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."
There are some reports coming which say the top military generals has been taken hostage at the headquarters.