161 killed, 2800 soldiers captured in Turkey’s botched coup

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Saturday said 161 people were killed, while 2,839 soldiers have been detained as a result of the attempt to overthrow the civilian government in the country.

The coup did not succeed mainly because of the overwhelming support which the government of President Tayyip Erdogan received from the people.

Speaking from an undisclosed location, Erdogan charged the people to take to the streets in solidarity with his government.

The rebel soldiers were forced to abandon their tanks in the main city of Istanbul.

Speaking outside his Cankaya palace in Ankara, the country’s palace, Yildirim revealed that 1,440 people sustained injuries in the putsch.

Yildirim blamed the coup attempt on the supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric based in the US.

Erdogan has vowed that those behind the act will “pay heavily”.

The military declared a coup after succeeding in closing two major bridges in Istanbul, shutting the Istanbul Ataturk airport, blocking social media, and making broadcast on the state television.

The jet of Erdogan, who had been holidaying on the coast, was initially prevented from touching down in Istanbul, but forces loyal to him regained control of the airport after fierce fighting.

Jets and helicopters hovered over Ankara, and gunfire and explosions were heard on streets.

CNN reported that hostages were being held at the military headquarters, while the state-run Anadolu news agency said the chief of Turkey’s military staff was among people taken “hostage” in Ankara – he was later freed by government forces.

Erdogan took full control of the government early Saturday.