Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Turkey is facing an uprising attempt from inside the army, with the state-run Anadolu Agency reporting that Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar is being kept as a hostage, Hurriyet has reported.
A group naming itself "Peace in the Country Council" published a statement on Turkey's state-run broadcaster TRT, which it had taken over during the July 15 coup attempt, that it has taken the power in the country.
The so-called council said “all those who have betrayed the country” would face trial at “fair courts”.
The so-called council also declared a curfew.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to make a statement, broadcaster CNN Turk said.
A CNN Turk reporter said a helicopter shoot on the General Staff headquarters in Ankara.
CNN Turk reported that two busses full of soldiers entered the headquarters of the state-run TRT in Ankara. Channels started to broadcast weather forecast only.
“This cannot be called a coup for the moment. This is an uprising,” PM Yildirim said.
The security forces are in action against this he said, in phone call to broadcaster NTV.
“We will punish this the hardest way,” he added.
“Our security forces will use force against force,” said Yildirim.
The head of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) said on broadcaster CNN Turk on the phone that a group of soldiers was trying to take them out of the building.
He called on citizens to hit the streets against the attempt, similar to pro-government papers on their websites.
Ambulances are awaiting in front of the General in Staff headquarters in Ankara, as entrance to the building is denied.
Ataturk Airport has been closed to traffic, with tanks waiting in front of it.
A number of armored vehicles have cut a main road in Istanbul, where the Istanbul police headquarters is located.
Gendarmerie has blocked entrances to bridges in Istanbul from the Anatolian to the European side of the city.
Reports said an explosion was heard in Ankara's Golbasi district.