Turkey coup: Foreign Office issues warning to Brits after deadly power struggle

Held: Turkish soldiers arrested by police sit on a police bus in Istanbul's Taksim square
AP
Robin de Peyer16 July 2016

Britons in Turkey were advised to stay indoors while a “state of martial law” was in effect during a deadly attempted coup in Turkey.

Gunfire and explosions were heard in the capital, Ankara, as well as Istanbul during the attempt.

President Recap Tayyip Erdogan denounced the coup as he appeared in Istanbul after ordering the military to shoot down aircraft being used by coup plotters.

In Istanbul, gunfire was heard and military vehicles blocked key bridges and access to the airport while fighter jets flew over the capital Ankara.

Held: Turkish soldiers arrested by police sit on a police bus in Istanbul's Taksim square
AP

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."

The updated Foreign Office advice said: "Large-scale military action is ongoing in Turkey, and a state of martial law is in effect.

"There are widespread reports of gunfire and explosions in Ankara and Istanbul, and the military has been deployed to the streets.

Held: Turkish soldiers, arrested by civilians, are handed to police officers, in Istanbul's Taksim squar
AP

"Some flights to airports in Turkey are being diverted or cancelled, and the bridges across the Bosphorus in Istanbul have been closed.

"The road between Marmaris and Icmeler is closed, with reports of gunfire between the resorts of Marmaris and Icmeler.

"We strongly advise you to stay indoors, avoid public places, in particular demonstrations, and remain vigilant."

Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge during the takeover
Getty Images

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed that the government was "in charge" and that the attempted coup would not succeed.

An official in his office said least 60 people have been killed and 336 people, most of them soldiers, have been arrested across Turkey. Most of the dead are reported to be civilians.

Defiant: A man stands in front of a tank in the entrance to Istanbul's Ataturk airport early on Saturday during the attempted military coup in Turkey
AP

Earlier, military figures announced they had "fully seized control" of the country - a member of Nato and an applicant for EU membership - in a bid to restore democracy and the rule of law.

Explosions were reported at the Turkish parliament in Ankara and it was reported that 17 police officers had been killed in a helicopter attack on police special forces headquarters on the outskirts of the capital.

The Turkish news agency Dogan said soldiers had opened fired on people trying to cross the Bosphorus Bridge protesting against the attempted coup, and that some had been wounded.

Witness Alev Scott, a British-Turkish writer, heard gunfire in Istanbul's Taksim Square and low-flying jets.

Turkish military patrol in Istanbul
AFP/Getty

She said: "I was watching things from my terrace, watching the military vehicles on the Bosphorus Bridge and then these sonic booms started.

"It was actually quite scary so I went down into my flat just keeping away from the windows which had all blown open."

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry issued a statement urging "calm and restraint" from everyone in Turkey in the coming days.

Turkish military apparently detain police officers on the side of a road in Istanbul
AFP/Getty Images

She said: "There is no excuse on any side for violence or abuse of human rights, and we would urge all parties to engage with the international community to preserve peace and democracy, and resolve this situation.

"In particular, we urge all those in a position of authority to reassure Britons and other foreign nationals currently visiting Turkey that they are safe, and will be allowed to return home without impediment at the earliest opportunity."

Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord (Menzies) Campbell told the Press Association: "It should come as little surprise that the army which sees itself as the proud guardian of the secular tradition in Turkey, has responded to President Erdogan in this way.

"His increasing steps to create a greater religious element in governance and his restrictions on civil rights have provoked severe discontent.

"Instability in Turkey has profound consequences for its relationship with the EU and the issues of immigrants and for Nato of which Turkey is a long-standing and military and politically significant member."

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