Crushed

Hundreds of killed and wounded are the result of a failed military coup in Turkey

The attempt of a coup in Turkey failed, but President Recep Erdogan urged his supporters not to disperse, fearing new attempts to seize power by the military.

Pensioner Aishe Altynkum, who lives in the Asian part of Istanbul, says that she did not sleep all night and is very afraid. She tells me that until the morning she heard the roar of aircraft, explosions and screams. Turkish citizens are in shock, they try not to leave their homes. Shops, restaurants and cafes are closed, despite the weekend. In the areas of Istanbul, where there are many hotels, small queues from ATMs - people withdraw money, fearing the possible inflation or closing of banks. 65-year-old Aisha Altynkum says:

"It was very scary. Military helicopters flew at low altitude, their noise drowned out the sound of the TV. The military fighters rose into the air. We were very afraid that one of them could be shot down and fall on our heads. I was called, relatives, friends, all were excited and frightened."

As a result of a failed military coup in Ankara and Istanbul, about two hundred people were killed. Among the victims there are civilians. More than one and a half thousand soldiers were arrested, who are suspected of trying to seize power. The commander of the First Army, General Dundar, said that the military elite did not know anything about the upcoming coup, because a small group of the military rebelled. "This is a reflection of long years of tension in relations between the country's leadership and the Turkish army, which reached the peak after the ISIS attack on the ISEMBULER Airport a few weeks ago."

Crowd near Istanbul airport

Here is what the former Istanbul military told me on the terms of anonymity.

"The atmosphere of fear reigns in the Turkish army. People are afraid. Earlier, about a thousand military men were arrested on charges of conspiracies, they are accused of organizing a conspiracy against Erdogan. The trials are still ongoing for years. People have been waiting for a court decision. However, the authorities can not bring anything to them, except for fictional accusations of relations with secret organizations."

Representatives of the Turkish authorities believe that the military rebellion was organized with the participation of the so -called "parallel structures", which allegedly support the enemy of Erdogan, the Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, living in the exile in America. The term “parallel structures” introduced the appeal a couple of years ago by Recep Erdogan himself after hundreds of journalists, cultural figures and the military were arrested and put on trial for an attempt to commit a military coup.

The events of the night on July 16 developed rapidly. Around midnight, the military group tried to capture vital buildings and objects. About one in the morning in Ankara, army aviation began to bomb Majlis. Dozens of people who were in parliament at that time were injured. The lower floors were destroyed by explosions and neighboring buildings were injured. The rebels managed to temporarily capture the state television company TGRT in Ankara. The building of the television center was surrounded by the police, but the military nevertheless went on live. In an appeal to the people, they stated that the ruling elite was arrested and the authorities passed to the so -called "peaceful advice", which took control of the country. Here is what the employee of the SNNNTYURK television channel told me, which was illuminated live the events of last night:

"In Istanbul, tanks were pulled to the airport building. Spontaneous rallies began in support of the authorities. The Internet was blocked, the broadcasting of all central television channels was turned off. The police entered the building of the SNNTURK television channel, demanded to stop broadcasting and expelled employees from there. Many journalists on the Internet said that this was a violation They want to hide truthful information. "

At about one in the morning, movement was blocked along the main highways of the country. The authorities closed bridges through the Bosphorus connecting the Asian and European units of Istanbul. Thousands of cars accumulated at the entrance to the highway. Panic began. A few mass fights, shootings and dozens of victims were reported. The authorities temporarily closed the Istanbul airport and annulled all international flights. They gave only permission to land the arriving aircraft. About two in the morning a column of tanks, a large group of police and ambulance vehicles arrived at the airport. Hundreds of passengers accumulated in the waiting room, people were sitting on the floor due to lack of space. Rumors began to spread on the Internet that Recep Erdogan fled the country. There were reports that he allegedly requested permission to fly to Germany. Soon, the president made a statement on the phone. He seemed frightened and uncertain. He urged to defend the democratic conquests of the republic and promised that those who attempted a military coup would greatly regret it.

"Those who committed this atrocity against the people will be strictly punished and regretted about the deed. The Turkish people should rally in the face of the upcoming danger. We will not allow our republic to ruin, we will defend our democratic conquests. Turkey is not some kind of African country, this is a strong single power. We are able to stop the guilty ones," said Realzhep Erdogan.

Erdogan urged citizens to take the streets to protect the conquests of the Turkish Republic and support power. Soon after his call, the people began to gather at the regional offices of the justice party. Many took to the streets with national flags and slogans in defense of the republic. Among people there were many believers and women in Islamic clothes. Supporters of the ruling party are mainly a conservative religious part of Turkish society, among them there are many poor people who have hopes for the aid of justice, a symbol of which is a burning light bulb personifying a "bright future." They receive financial assistance from the state, food, coal of winter sometimes cheap medical care. Here is what the opponent of the ruling party told me, Istana student Aisha, an eyewitness to events:

"Some of the arrivals to save Erdogan were very decisively and aggressive. Crowds of people began to chant Allah Akbar and call for jihad. Many had weapons in their hands. Secular Turks, who did not support power, began to fear that the religious revolution, as was the case in Iran. The situation in Turkey is very intense. There is a war in neighboring Syria. There is a war in the country. Refugees are scared.

Representatives of the opposition People's Republican Party condemned a military coup, which could finally destroy the country and deepen the economic decline, caused, in particular, a crisis in relations between Turkey and Russia. At the same time, they condemned the calls of the authorities to the people to go out onto the streets, as this could lead to bloodshed, provocations and new victims. The party leader Kemal Kylychdaroglu called the failed military coup "puppet" and "dubious." Here is what the activist of this party said on the Hulk TV channel:

"The events of last night were organized with the permission of the authorities on the eve of the popular referendum on the change in the current Constitution in order to strengthen the positions of President Recep Erdogan, who is trying to concentrate all the power in its hands. The ruling party turned the country into its feeding trial. Corruption scandals with the participation of Islamic officials flare up."

The main opposition newspaper "Jumkhuriet" claims that the scenario of the military coup will give new maps into the hands of the ruling party of justice, which further leads Turkey from the democratic society towards the totalitarian state. In conditions of non -freedom, the authorities cannot and do not want to fight the consequences of the economic crisis, unemployment and corruption. To calm the discontent of citizens, they begin a "new witch hunt." Obviously, a new attack on the free press and the arrests of journalists will follow.

Chronicle of events - on the blog , which Radio Freedom Journalists led on the night of July 16