By — Kamala Kelkar Kamala Kelkar Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/scenes-failed-coup-turkey Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Crowds take to the streets after coup thwarted in Turkey World Jul 16, 2016 2:44 PM EDT Citizens surged the streets of Turkey on Saturday after supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan successfully quelled an overnight coup attempt that left more than 265 dead. Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan celebrate with flags on top of a police car in Ankara, Turkey, July 16, 2016. Photo by Tumay Berkin/Reuters Nationalists waved the country’s flag and stood atop abandoned tankers near government buildings that were bombed and shot by militia trying to oust Erdogan. After more than 2,000 people connected to the coup had been detained, Erdogan said that he vowed that those responsible “will pay a heavy price for their treason,” according the Associated Press. Prime Minister Binali Yildrim said even though the death penalty is not in the constitution, legal changes would be considered. People wave flags as they wait for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to appear for a speech in Istanbul, Turkey, July 16, 2016. Photo by Murad Sezer/Reuters Late Friday, the militia involved in the coup had blocked two key bridges in Istanbul and entrances to the airport, taking aim with fighter jets, guns and explosives at buildings and people protesting the uprising. In a statement, the group wrote it wanted “to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for law and order to be reinstated,” the AP reported. A man walks inside the destroyed parliament building in Ankara, July 16, 2016 after an attempted coup in Turkey. Photo by Reuters Erdogan, who was on vacation, sent a mass text imploring Turks to “stand up” for democracy and peace. He also addressed the country on CNN-Turk from an undisclosed location through the iPhone application FaceTime, saying the uprising was by a “minority within our armed forces,” before returning. Supporters listened. People demonstrate outside Ataturk international airport during an attempted coup in Istanbul, Turkey, July 16, 2016. Photo by Huseyin Aldemir/Reuters Thats what you call people’s resistance – Way to go Turks – take a bow. #TurkeyCoup pic.twitter.com/wDg7EK1L4O — Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) July 15, 2016 The Turkish military has long been seen as a guardian of secular traditions, clashing with Erdogan’s Islamic-influenced AKP party. Though not all members of the military supported the uprising; those who did not wore red and white. In Malatya, clashes are between soldiers, so anti-coup soldiers are wearing red and white colors #Turkey pic.twitter.com/apQNqdMfCM — Michael Horowitz (@michaelh992) July 16, 2016 The government has also come under pressure amid a refugee crisis as millions of people fleeing violence in neighboring countries Syria and Iraq have fled to Turkey. As insurgents began to surrender, they were attacked by Edogan supporters before police were able to intervene. Soldiers push each other to board a bus to escape the mob after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey July 16, 2016. Photo by Murad Sezer/Reuters Throughout Friday and Saturday, more than one thousand were injured. About one hundred coup supporters, and 161 police officers and civilians were killed, according to the New York Times. HUGE: Crazy footage shows helicopters firing a target on the ground in Ankara. pic.twitter.com/vtiZSkckzV — Gilgo (@agirecudi) July 15, 2016 The country has a history of insurrection, with the military staging three coups between 1960 and 1980. The most recent was after the government had changed prime ministers 11 times during the 1970s. Military took over for three years. Turkey is a NATO member and a key Western ally in the fight against the Islamic State. President Barack Obama urged all sides to support the democratically elected government. Obama’s office released a statement Saturday that said there was no indication any Americans had died. “The President instructed his team to continue to work with their Turkish counterparts to maintain the safety and well-being of diplomatic missions and personnel, U.S. servicemembers, and their dependents,” the statement said. “The President also underscored the shared challenges that will require continued Turkish cooperation, including our joint efforts against terrorism. The President requested continued updates, as the situation warrants.” Dan Moritz-Rabson contributed to this report. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Kamala Kelkar Kamala Kelkar Kamala Kelkar works on investigative projects at PBS NewsHour Weekend. She has been a journalist for a decade, reporting from Oakland, India, Alaska and now New York. @kkelkar
Citizens surged the streets of Turkey on Saturday after supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan successfully quelled an overnight coup attempt that left more than 265 dead. Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan celebrate with flags on top of a police car in Ankara, Turkey, July 16, 2016. Photo by Tumay Berkin/Reuters Nationalists waved the country’s flag and stood atop abandoned tankers near government buildings that were bombed and shot by militia trying to oust Erdogan. After more than 2,000 people connected to the coup had been detained, Erdogan said that he vowed that those responsible “will pay a heavy price for their treason,” according the Associated Press. Prime Minister Binali Yildrim said even though the death penalty is not in the constitution, legal changes would be considered. People wave flags as they wait for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to appear for a speech in Istanbul, Turkey, July 16, 2016. Photo by Murad Sezer/Reuters Late Friday, the militia involved in the coup had blocked two key bridges in Istanbul and entrances to the airport, taking aim with fighter jets, guns and explosives at buildings and people protesting the uprising. In a statement, the group wrote it wanted “to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for law and order to be reinstated,” the AP reported. A man walks inside the destroyed parliament building in Ankara, July 16, 2016 after an attempted coup in Turkey. Photo by Reuters Erdogan, who was on vacation, sent a mass text imploring Turks to “stand up” for democracy and peace. He also addressed the country on CNN-Turk from an undisclosed location through the iPhone application FaceTime, saying the uprising was by a “minority within our armed forces,” before returning. Supporters listened. People demonstrate outside Ataturk international airport during an attempted coup in Istanbul, Turkey, July 16, 2016. Photo by Huseyin Aldemir/Reuters Thats what you call people’s resistance – Way to go Turks – take a bow. #TurkeyCoup pic.twitter.com/wDg7EK1L4O — Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) July 15, 2016 The Turkish military has long been seen as a guardian of secular traditions, clashing with Erdogan’s Islamic-influenced AKP party. Though not all members of the military supported the uprising; those who did not wore red and white. In Malatya, clashes are between soldiers, so anti-coup soldiers are wearing red and white colors #Turkey pic.twitter.com/apQNqdMfCM — Michael Horowitz (@michaelh992) July 16, 2016 The government has also come under pressure amid a refugee crisis as millions of people fleeing violence in neighboring countries Syria and Iraq have fled to Turkey. As insurgents began to surrender, they were attacked by Edogan supporters before police were able to intervene. Soldiers push each other to board a bus to escape the mob after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey July 16, 2016. Photo by Murad Sezer/Reuters Throughout Friday and Saturday, more than one thousand were injured. About one hundred coup supporters, and 161 police officers and civilians were killed, according to the New York Times. HUGE: Crazy footage shows helicopters firing a target on the ground in Ankara. pic.twitter.com/vtiZSkckzV — Gilgo (@agirecudi) July 15, 2016 The country has a history of insurrection, with the military staging three coups between 1960 and 1980. The most recent was after the government had changed prime ministers 11 times during the 1970s. Military took over for three years. Turkey is a NATO member and a key Western ally in the fight against the Islamic State. President Barack Obama urged all sides to support the democratically elected government. Obama’s office released a statement Saturday that said there was no indication any Americans had died. “The President instructed his team to continue to work with their Turkish counterparts to maintain the safety and well-being of diplomatic missions and personnel, U.S. servicemembers, and their dependents,” the statement said. “The President also underscored the shared challenges that will require continued Turkish cooperation, including our joint efforts against terrorism. The President requested continued updates, as the situation warrants.” Dan Moritz-Rabson contributed to this report. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now