People take over a tank near the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge during clashes with military forces in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 16, 2016.Gurcan Ozturk—AFP/Getty Images
Dramatic images emerged Friday evening after a military coup was attempted against the Turkish government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leaving dozens of people dead and plunging the country into chaos. Erdogan was shown on Turkish television, via iPhone, blaming the attempt on an opposition group and calling on his supporters to resist the military’s power grab and mass in public places.
“It is carried out without my knowledge and it is completely illegal,” he said. “I am inviting everyone to go outside and resist against this illegal structure.” Martial law was declared as scenes of military personnel and armored vehicles played out in Ankara and Istanbul. Erdogan later returned to Istanbul, signaling that the takeover attempt had not succeeded.
Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge, which separates the European and Asian sides of the city, on July 15, 2016.Gokhan Tan—Getty ImagesTurkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim Square early on July 16, 2016.Emrah Gurel—APTwo men react against a coup attempt from within the army in Ankara, Turkey, on July 16, 2016.Sinan Yiter—Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on CNN Turk via FaceTime on July 15, 2016.Burak Kara—Getty ImagesPeople take over a tank near the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge during clashes with military forces in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 16, 2016.Gurcan Ozturk—AFP/Getty ImagesPeople take to the street in support of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Antalya, Turkey, on July 16, 2016.Chris McGrath—Getty ImagesA tank moving into position crashes over a car as people attempt to stop it in Ankara, Turkey, on July 15, 2016.Burhan Ozbilici—APSupporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are dispersed with shots in the air by the military at Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 16, 2016. Murad Sezer—ReutersPeople occupy a tank in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 16, 2016. Turkish Prime Minister Yildirim reportedly said that the Turkish military was involved in an attempted coup d'etat. The Turkish military meanwhile stated it had taken over control.Tolga Bozoglu—EPAPeople gather with their mobile phones to react against the military coup attempt in the Tuzla District of Istanbul, Turkey, on July 16, 2016.Isa Terli—Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesA wounded man is taken away after clashes with the Turkish military at the entrance to the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 16, 2016.Bulent Kilic—AFP/Getty ImagesA man covered with blood points at the Bosphorus Bridge as the Turkish military clashes with people at the entrance to the bridge in Istanbul on July 16, 2016.Bulent Kilic—AFP/Getty Images
