At least 60 people have been killed in the attempted coup, with the military clashing with police and the citizenry. This number is expected to rise by a significant amount as more is discovered about what has happened in the country.
Whilst some fighting is reportedly still taking place in the capital, Ankara, pro-coup elements of the military in other locations have been seen surrendering to the citizenry and police, particularly in the iconic city of Istanbul. On the Bosphorous bridge, which links Europe to Asia, approximately 50 troops surrendered, leaving their equipment and firearms on the ground. In other locations, army troops surrendered to the police en mass.
This is by no means unprecedented in Turkish history, as there have been five coups since 1960. Usually, the military is able to secure the support of the people, but this has not been the case on this particular occasion. Early appearances from Prime Minister Erdogan to CNN Turk via FaceTime were key to maintaining the people's backing, as he was able to prove to them that he was alive and was also able to call them to arms. Erdogan called for Turks to go to squares and airports to resist the takeover, a call that was answered by several thousand people.
As the military began to tighten its grip over the country, it shut down media outlets and began to fight with the police, which was still pro-Erdogan. The bombings of the Turkish Parliament and Presidential Palace did nothing to boost the confidence of the population, which went out onto the streets blocking the path of tanks and other vehicles, protesting and fighting with the military. Several instances of the military indiscriminately firing upon civilians have been reported, with more information expected to be learned in the coming days.
Not only did the coup fail to gain public support, but it also lacked internal unity. Not all elements of the army were in support of the action, with the General of the 1st Turkish Army making a statement via live feed declaring that his army was not in support of the coup. The Commander of Istanbul's 3rd Corps took a similar stance, ordering those in the army to return to their barracks.
Elements of the military which supported the coup have pledged to continue fighting but it is now clear that Erdogan has retained control over the nation. This is expected to significantly boost support and confidence in his administration, which has been controversial for a number of reasons.
In the coming weeks, exactly what has happened in the cities of Istanbul and Ankara will become clear, as well as casualty rates, who is responsible and how this will affect the tense political climate of the country and also the entire region.
Hugh McFarlane
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