RIA News services reports that at least 17 police officers have been killed in fire fights against military coup forces in an attempt to stave off the attempt to oust President Erdogan. This has been confirmed by Turkey's Anadolou news service.
The police are also attempting to protect civilians who have come under a mass wave of fire from the military coup fighters, who initially called themselves a "Peace Council" after protesters took to the streets at the call of President Erdogan to resist the coup.
Andrew Beatty (@AndrewBeatty) July 15, 2016
Additionally, Turkish government officials report that a government F-16 has shot down a helicopter used by the military coup plotters. Ankara blames the coup attempt on Gulenists and says that it is a minority of the military who are behind this.
Freddy Sandernista (@Berniesanderss4) July 15, 2016
The people have heeded the government's call to fight back against the attempt to overthrow the democratically elected President taking to the streets at all costs and engaging in conflict with the military including repeated efforts to seize tanks from armed forces.
The anti-Erdogan military forces have responded with a wave of wanton violence against civilians rolling over pro-Erdogan protesters with tanks, opening fire against civilians with both rifles and tanks, and using helicopters to shoot government loyalists.
Initial reports out of Turkey indicate that the leader of the coup effort has surrendered himself to government forces and that loyalists to the Erdogan government has made advances. However, images from Turkey show that the anti-Erdogan military forces have the weapons of war at their disposal and have shown themselves willing to use them without regard for life.
MORE TO COME.
