A group within Turkey’s military attempted to overthrow the government, accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of undermining Turkey’s secular tradition. Over 160 people were killed and nearly 1,500 soldiers have been arrested.
President Erdogan called for his people to reclaim the streets of Turkey.
Here’s a timeline of events as they happened, with the latest developments first (Time is in GMT):
16 July, Saturday
05:35 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demands the US extradite the Muslim cleric he blames for attempted coup.
12:01 - US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen denies accusations of a role in the attempted coup and condemns “in the strongest terms” the attempt to topple the government.
11:51 - Police detain about 100 military officers at air base in Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey.
11:45 - Turkish authorities remove 2,745 judges from duty, broadcaster NTV reports, citing a decision by the High Council of Judges and Prosectors (HSYK).
10:54 - Turkish maritime authorities re-open Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait to transiting tankers.
10:27 - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan sends a mass text message imploring people to take to the streets against a “narrow cadre”.
10:23 - Greek military source says anti-government group at Turkey’s Golcuk naval base has taken over frigate, head of Turkish fleet taken hostage.
09:54 - Turkish military helicopter lands in northern Greece, eight men on board request political asylum.
09:20 - Turkish PM Binali Yildirim says 161 people killed, 1,440 wounded, 2,839 army members detained including ordinary soldiers and high-ranking officers.
08:00 - Acting Chief of Staff of the armed forces, Umit Dundar, says coup attempt was mainly by troops from air force, gendarmerie, some “armoured elements”.
05:54 - Turkey’s intelligence agency headquarters were attacked by military helicopters and heavy machine gun fire, wounding at least three people overnight.
05:29 - The head of Turkey’s armed forces, Hulusi Akar, was rescued after being held hostage.
05:10 - Turkey’s military headquarters reclaimed by pro-government forces but small groups of rebel soldiers still resisting and control some military helicopters.
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04:33 - Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attack a group of soldiers who had surrendered on an Istanbul bridge before police intervened to rescue them.
04:18 - An email from the Turkish military General Staff’s press office address says the faction of officers behind the coup attempt is still fighting. Calling itself the Peace at Home Movement, the faction tells people to stay indoors for their own safety.
03:56 - Turkey appoints the head of its First Army, Umit Dundar, as acting Chief of military staff, while the whereabouts of the head of the armed forces is unknown.
03:42 - Soldiers involved in the attempted coup surrender on one of the bridges across the Bosphorus in Istanbul, abandoning their tanks with their hands raised in the air.
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03:39 - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses thousands waving flags at Istanbul’s main airport, urges supporters to stay on streets until the situation normalises.
01:00 - Erdogan appears among supporters at Istanbul airport, says uprising has been attempted against solidarity and unity of country; says no power is above national will.
00:45 - Around 30 soldiers, part of faction attempting to carry out coup, surrender weapons after being surrounded by armed police in Istanbul’s central Taksim square.
00:45 - Turkish private broadcaster CNN Turk halts live news broadcast, presenter says soldiers entered studio control room.
00:20 - Turkish official says Erdogan’s plane lands in Istanbul.
15 July, Friday
23:52 - Turkish PM says situation under control, blames Gulen movement, declares no-fly zone over Ankara. A US–based organisation close to Gulen earlier denied involvement.
23:39 - Bomb hits parliament in Ankara, state-run Anadolu Agency says.
23:20 - US Secretary of State John Kerry says “absolute support for Turkey’s democratically elected, civilian government and democratic institutions” in phone call with Turkish foreign minister.
23:13 - Group close to Gulen says accusations are “highly irresponsible”. Condemns military intervention in Turkish politics, says concerned about safety of citizens.
23:05 - President Obama says he and Secretary of State Kerry agree that all parties in Turkey should support elected government. Urges restraint, avoidance of bloodshed.
23:04 - State-run Anadolu Agency says 17 police killed at Ankara special forces headquarters.
22:59 - Turkish fighter jet shoots down military helicopter used by coup-plotters over Ankara, broadcaster NTV says.
22:51 - Commander of Special Forces says a group has engaged in treason, they will not succeed. Says military does not condone coup.
22:47 - PM says gangs and illegal formations are behind coup attempt, and calls it a terrorist act. He says government remains in charge.
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22:37 - Commander of Turkey’s First Army, part of land forces responsible for Istanbul and other western areas, said those attempting a coup were a small faction and there was “nothing to worry about”.
22:26 - Two loud explosions heard in centre of Turkish capital.
22:08 - Tanks surround Turkish parliament building, open fire. Gunfire heard at Istanbul airport.
22:03 - Turkish justice minister says members of a movement loyal to Fethullah Gulen in the army are behind the attempted coup.
21:51 - A military helicopter opens fire over the Turkish capital Ankara, witnesses report an explosion in the capital.
21:26 - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan urges people to take to the streets to protest against what he describes as a coup attempt by a minority faction within the military.
21:18 - Presidential source says President and government are still in power.
21:05 - Turkish state broadcaster says reading statement on the 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.
20:57 - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media restricted in Turkey, said internet monitoring groups.
20:47 - Turkish Chief of military staff among hostages taken at military headquarters in Ankara.
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20:25 - Turkish military say have taken power to protect democratic order.
20:02 - PM Binali Yildirim says attempted coup under way, calls for calm.
19:50 - Gunshots are heard in Ankara, military jets and helicopters seen flying overhead. Helicopters seen overhead in Istanbul.
19:29 - Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge are both closed. Dogan News Agency footage shows cars and buses being diverted.
(With inputs from Reuters.)
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