The Turkish military tried to take control of media outlets, forcing President Erdogan to make a statement on Apple FaceTime
YouTube/Habertürk TV Canlı Yayın
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement aired on CNN Turk, on Apple FaceTime on Friday night in response to a coup staged by the Turkish armed forces.
The "military coup will be thwarted," said Erdogan, appearing on a shaky iPhone screen held by CNN Turk correspondent Hande Firat.
The Turkish military attempted to usurp the government on Friday night, deploying military into the streets of Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey's largest city and capital, respectively.
Erdogan had been vacationing in Bodrum, on the southern Turkish coast, at the time of the uprising. The military briefly prevented Erdogan from landing, during a time in which it took control of Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
"I call on our people to gather in squares, airports," Erdogan said at the time.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/754066083296972800
Erdogan making a statement through Facetime. Says the military coup will be thwarted. Perpetrators will be punished. pic.twitter.com/d5dmVfMMV8
"Let them come with their tanks," Erdogan continued. "I am commander in chief in this country. Those who attempted a coup will pay the highest price."
The military had, at one point, taken over TRT — the state-run television broadcaster in Ankara, multiple sources reported.
"Just got asked to leave work (the state broadcaster) by about 40 or 50 armed soldiers," journalist Arabella Munro tweeted. "They took our phones. #istanbul."
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