A failed military coup has left scores dead and over a thousand people wounded throughout Turkey following a violent attempt to overthrow the government by the country's military.
Chief of General Staff Gen. Umit Dundar confirmed the information, clarifying that 41 police officers and 47 civilians are among the dead following the night's events.
Sakarya Governor to detained soldiers: How could you take an illegal order and shoot civilians? pic.twitter.com/0jzg0aJRrb
— Mehmet Solmaz (@MhmtSlmz) July 16, 2016
Earlier on Saturday, the Turkish government came under siege by a faction of military forces who sought to end the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan citing the leader's drift away from the country's long-held secularist values.
In his first address to the nation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that the coup attempt was carried out by a small minority within the military seeking to divide the country. He called the attempt "a blessing from Allah, because it will allow us to purge the military" of mutineers.
Throughout the attempted coup Erdogan called on his supporters to take to streets and stay outside until the situation in the country normalizes, stressing that united there is nothing they could not defeat.
Warning, images below contain graphic content!
Incredible bravery last night. Many Turks risked their lives & some paid ultimate price to stand against #TurkeyCoup pic.twitter.com/m1HC0q9p8e
— Sophie McNeill (@Sophiemcneill) July 16, 2016
Power of the people summed up. This will go down as one of the best pictures of 2016. #failedcoup #TurkeyCoup pic.twitter.com/tBzzWYJycq
— Saad Saleem (@Saadsaleem93) July 16, 2016
Ahhh…..#TurkeyCoup!! Oh God mercy! 💔💔😷😨💔 pic.twitter.com/x0tS3hmrQa
— Syed Hamayun Shah (@keatsozil) July 16, 2016
