Turkey coup: 90 dead and 1,100 wounded after attempt to overthrow Erdogan by military

'Mass casualties’ as series of violent clashes shake Ankara and Istanbul

(Getty)

An attempted military coup in Turkey has left at least 90 dead, 1,154 wounded and 1,563 detained after a night of violence.

A faction of the Turkish armed forces attempted to overthrow the government late on Friday, with soldiers taking over some news outlets and tanks and helicopters blocking bridges.

Meanwhile, war planes flew over Ankara and explosions have rocked the Turkish parliament.

State news has reported “mass casualties” in Turkish cities as both the government and those linked to the military have battled for control.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had been on holiday as the coup began, flew into Istanbul’s Ataturk airport early on Saturday and was greeted by large crowds.

He denounced the coup attempt as an “act of treason” and said the government remains in power.

Mr Erdogan warned coup supporters that “they will pay a heavy price for their treason to Turkey“, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by his office.

“Those who stain the military's reputation must leave. The process has started today, and it will continue just as we fight other terrorist groups.”

Live television showed dozens of soldiers surrendering with their hands up and walking away from tanks after blocking one of Istanbul’s Bosphorus bridges overnight.

Mr Erdogan, had earlier been forced to use a mobile phone and FaceTime video chat to appear on national television and claim he was still in control of the country.

Urging Turkish citizens to take to the streets, he said: “There is no power higher than the power of the people,” the president said.

“The chain of command has been violated,” he added. “This is a step against the higher ranks by their superiors.”

Mr Erdogan also said his general secretary had been abducted by the coup plotters.

General Zekai Aksakalli, the commander of the military special forces, told Turkey’s NTV: “Those who are attempting a coup will not succeed. Our people should know that we will overcome this.”

As the coup began, a statement from the military said it had taken control “to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for law and order to be reinstated.”

The government has claimed the coup has failed. A senior government official told the Associated Press that all government officials were in charge of their offices.