• Action taken to ‘reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedoms’, say armed forces
• Turkish PM Binali Yıldırım says security forces are tackling situation
• Military aircraft seen flying over capital and gunfire reported
An announcement on the Turkish state broadcaster TRT says that a curfew has been declared across Turkey and that airports are closed. The announcer says they are being made to read a statement by the military.
The statement promises a new constitution for the country and says that democracy and the secular rule of law had been undermined. Martial law has also been imposed, it adds.
• Turkish PM Binali Yıldırım says security forces are tackling situation
• Military aircraft seen flying over capital and gunfire reported
An announcement on the Turkish state broadcaster TRT says that a curfew has been declared across Turkey and that airports are closed. The announcer says they are being made to read a statement by the military.
The statement promises a new constitution for the country and says that democracy and the secular rule of law had been undermined. Martial law has also been imposed, it adds.
People rush to ATM machines to withdraw money.
The head of the Istanbul branch of Turkey’s ruling AK party says soldiers entered the party building and asked them to leave, CNN Turk reports.
The US secretary of state John Kerry says he hopes there will be peace, stability and unity within Turkey amid reports that a military coup is underway.
Soldiers are inside the buildings of the Turkish state broadcaster TRT in the country’s capital Ankara, a correspondent for that outlet tells the Reuters news agency.
We understand that the Turkish president is due to make a statement shortly.
The full Turkish military statement reads: “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 general security that was damaged.
A Turkish military stands guard in the Taksim Square in Istanbul. Photograph: Murad Sezer/Reuters
“All international agreements are still valid. We hope that all of our good relationships with all countries will continue.”
The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is on holiday and outside the country. Reuters has quoted a source within his office as saying that he is safe.
There are numerous reports that hostages have been taken in the Turkish capital, Ankara. CNN Turk say they’re being held at a military HQ there.
The state-run Anadolu press agency says the chief of military staff is among those being held.
Presidential sources say: “This is an attack against Turkish democracy. A group within the armed forces has made an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government outside the chain of command.
“The statement made on behalf of the Armed Forces wasn’t authorised by the military command. We urge the world to stand in solidarity with the Turkish people.”
Some more detail on the statement said to come from Turkey’s armed forces. They have reportedly said in emails reported on Turkish TV that they have taken power to protect the democratic order and to maintain human rights.
They added that all of Turkey’s existing foreign relations would be maintained and that the rule of law would remain the priority. The Guardian has not seen the correspondence and, therefore, can yet verify where it has come from or on behalf of whom - exactly - it was sent.
The Associated Press is now carrying fuller quotes from the Turkish prime minister’s interview with NTV.
Having confirmed his belief that an attempted coup was underway, Yıldırım said: “We are focusing on the possibility of an attempt [coup]. 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.”
The Dogan news agency said one-way traffic on the Bosporus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges were blocked. Video footage showed the bridge being blocked by military vehicles.
Turkish soldiers block the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul preventing cars leaving the Asian side of the river. Photograph: Emrah Gurel/AP
The head of the Istanbul branch of Turkey’s ruling AK party says soldiers entered the party building and asked them to leave, CNN Turk reports.
The US secretary of state John Kerry says he hopes there will be peace, stability and unity within Turkey amid reports that a military coup is underway.
Soldiers are inside the buildings of the Turkish state broadcaster TRT in the country’s capital Ankara, a correspondent for that outlet tells the Reuters news agency.
We understand that the Turkish president is due to make a statement shortly.
The full Turkish military statement reads: “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 general security that was damaged.
A Turkish military stands guard in the Taksim Square in Istanbul. Photograph: Murad Sezer/Reuters“All international agreements are still valid. We hope that all of our good relationships with all countries will continue.”
The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is on holiday and outside the country. Reuters has quoted a source within his office as saying that he is safe.
There are numerous reports that hostages have been taken in the Turkish capital, Ankara. CNN Turk say they’re being held at a military HQ there.
The state-run Anadolu press agency says the chief of military staff is among those being held.
Presidential sources say: “This is an attack against Turkish democracy. A group within the armed forces has made an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government outside the chain of command.
“The statement made on behalf of the Armed Forces wasn’t authorised by the military command. We urge the world to stand in solidarity with the Turkish people.”
Some more detail on the statement said to come from Turkey’s armed forces. They have reportedly said in emails reported on Turkish TV that they have taken power to protect the democratic order and to maintain human rights.
They added that all of Turkey’s existing foreign relations would be maintained and that the rule of law would remain the priority. The Guardian has not seen the correspondence and, therefore, can yet verify where it has come from or on behalf of whom - exactly - it was sent.
The Associated Press is now carrying fuller quotes from the Turkish prime minister’s interview with NTV.
Having confirmed his belief that an attempted coup was underway, Yıldırım said: “We are focusing on the possibility of an attempt [coup]. 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.”
The Dogan news agency said one-way traffic on the Bosporus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges were blocked. Video footage showed the bridge being blocked by military vehicles.
Turkish soldiers block the Bosporus Bridge in Istanbul preventing cars leaving the Asian side of the river. Photograph: Emrah Gurel/AP
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