Turkish Attempted Coup: Timeline Of Events As They Unfolded
Submitted by Christopher Tusiime on
Yesterday there was an attempted coup in Turkey and below is a timeline of breaking events as they unfolded. All times in GMT as reported by Reuters, starting with the latest. The president Tayyip Erdogan says he is still in power.
2226 - Two loud explosions heard in center of Turkish capital
2208 - Tanks surround Turkish parliament building, open fire. Gunfire heard at Istanbul airport.
2203 - Turkish justiceminister says members of a movement loyal to U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen in the army are behind the attempted coup. There has been no immediate comment from Gulen.
2151 - A military helicopter opens fire over the Turkish capital Ankara, witnesses report an explosion in the capital.
2135 - Turkish state broadcaster TRT goes off air.
2126 - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urges peopleto take to the streets to protest against what he describes as a coup attempt by a minority faction within the military. Speaking to a CNN Turk reporter via a cellphone video link he says it will meet a"necessary response".He says he is returning to the capital Ankara.
2122 - Turkish PM says on Twitter everything will be done to put down coup attempt, even ifit means fatalities. Says sieges are underway at some important buildings, without specifying, but urges people to remain calm.
2118 - Presidential source says presidentand government are still in power.
2105 - Turkish state broadcaster says reading statement onthe orders of the military - that new constitution will be prepared, accuses government of eroding democratic and secular rule of law, that the country is being run by a"peace council", that martial law imposed, curfew imposed across the country.
2102 - Head of Istanbul branch of Turkey's ruling AK Party says soldiers enter party building, told to go.
2058 - Soldiers are inside buildings of Turkish state broadcaster TRT in Ankara, TRT correspondent tells Reuters.
2057 - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media restricted in Turkey, say internet monitoring groups.
2049 - Turkish presidential source says statement made on behalf of armed forces was not authorized by military command.
2047 - Turkish chief of military staff among hostages taken at military headquarters in Ankara, says state-run Anadolu agency.
2038 - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is safe, reports CNN Turk.
2025 - Turkish military says has taken power to protect democratic order. In a statementsent by email and reported on Turkish TV channels, the military says all of Turkey's existing foreign relations will be maintained.
2002 - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says attempted coup under way, calls for calm. He says a group within Turkey's military has attempted to overthrow the government and security forces have been called in to "do what is necessary".
1950 - Gunshots are heard in Ankara, military jets and helicopters seen flying overhead. Helicopters seen overhead in Istanbul.
1929 - Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge are both closed. Dogan News Agency footage shows cars and buses being diverted.
Journalism.mak.ac.ug will keep you updated.
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