An aircraft carrying President Erdogan has landed at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport according to presidential sources. The Turkish leader whose control over the country remains tenuous at this hour will address the nation in an effort to get the people to rise up in an effort to quell an ongoing coup plot.
David Cenciotti (@cencio4) July 16, 2016
During the early hours of the coup President Erdogan addressed the nation via CNN Turk calling into the Western media outlet by FaceTime after military leaders had seized the TRT News station along with the bridges and Ataturk International Airport. At this hour, forces loyal to Erdogan have gained ground against the coup plotters who they accuse of being a handful of Gulenists inside the military although pictures coming in from the region suggest that the attempt to overthrow the government may be more serious.
TRT World (@trtworld) July 16, 2016
A massive blast had been reported near the Ataturk International Airport within minutes of the arrival of President Erdogan. The Turkish leader was seen among a crowd of supporters outside of the airport prior to the explosion. Erdogan planned to address the crowd and reporters quoted the leader saying that an uprising has been attempted against the solidarity and unity of our country and that those responsible will face a "necessary response" regardless of what institution they are a part of.
Soldiers took control of Istanbul's Ataturk International airport on Saturday shortly after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan landed there to condemn what he said was an attempted coup by a faction within in the military. The soldiers who took control of the airport were pro-Erdogan forces according to reports by Anadolu news agency which said that operations at the airport were back to normal and that flights would begin again at 6:00am (0300 GMT).
TRT World (@trtworld) July 16, 2016
