Death, Chaos As Coup Attempt Repelled In Turkey

At  around 7:30 p.m. on July 15, members of the Turkish military blocked access to the Bosphorus bridge, which links Istanbul's European and Asian sides. 

Turkish soldiers are surrounded by civilians in Taksim Square in Istanbul. Meanwhile, in the capital, Ankara, reports came in of gunfire and military aircraft flying over the city at around 8 p.m. on July 15.

Members of the Turkish military are posted on Taksim Square in Istanbul as civilians wave Turkish flags.

Around 10 p.m. on July 15, tanks surrounded the Turkish parliament building in Ankara. Explosions were reported. This image, from the Twitter account of Turkish politician Ömer Çelik, shows apparent damage to the building.

Another image purporting to show damage to the interior of the parliament building.

People took to the streets in Ankara to protest the attempted coup.

People run for cover. Above Ankara, sonic booms from low-flying military jets mixed with the sound of explosions. At 11 p.m. on July 15, Turkish broadcaster NTV reported that "Turkish fighter jet shoots down military helicopter used by coup plotters over Ankara."

An injured man lies on the ground during a protest against the attempted coup.

In Istanbul, things became increasingly tense as civilians swarmed soldiers who had taken up posts on Taksim Square. 

An injured woman draped in a Turkish flag is checked by others near military headquarters in Ankara. The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that seven police officers were killed at their Ankara special forces headquarters.

People queue to withdraw money from ATM machines.

A man lies in front of a Turkish Army tank at Ataturk airport in Istanbul. As flights were suspended, Turkish Airlines took to Twitter to condemn the attempted coup, saying, "Citizens who believe in democracy and freedom to stand up against this attack on our Parliament and our public representatives."

People run for cover as Turkish Army jets fly above Taksim Square in Istanbul. 

In the early hours of July 16, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the media in Istanbul after rushing back from a holiday. Erdogan said those involved in the coup would pay "a heavy price" for turning "the people's guns against the people."

People try to take over a tank in Ankara. In an address to Turkish television, Erdogan had urged people to take to the streets. 

Turkish police arrested Turkish soldiers at Taksim Square in Istanbul. The police force is seen as more closely aligned to the Turkish government than its military, which has traditionally been seen as a protector of Turkey's secular, democratic constitution.

Turkish soldiers surrender their weapons to police on Taksim Square. A statement released by the military said the coup attempt was a response to "rising autocratic rule... and increased terrorism."

Civilians surround a Turkish Army tank in Ankara. 

Thousands demonstrated outside Ataturk international airport in Istanbul during the attempted coup.

Turkish police arrest Turkish soldiers on Taksim Square in Istanbul.

A tank, crowded with civilians, drives over two cars in Istanbul in the early hours of July 16.

People run and hide as Turkish Army jets fly above Taksim Square in Istanbul. A senior Turkish official has vowed that any aircraft in the hands of coup plotters "will be shot down." 

People stand on a Turkish Army tank at Ataturk airport in Istanbul.

A civilian believed to have been killed by Turkish soldiers lies on the ground on the Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul on July 16.

A Turkish soldier was reportedly killed by a crowd of people after they took over a military position on the Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul on July 16.

Turkish police arrest Turkish soldiers at Taksim Square in Istanbul. Fighting continued as the sun rose over Turkey, but the coup appears to have largely failed. President Erdogan said the events were "a gift from God" that would enable Turkey to "claim our military from the members of this gang."

A policeman checks the condition of a soldier beaten by a mob after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul on July 16.

A policeman protects soldiers from a mob after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus bridge in Istanbul on July 16.

People take photographs of abandoned Turkish Army tanks on a road in Istanbul on July 16.