Apparent Military Coup Underway in Turkey

(CN) - The Turkish military claims it has "fully seized control" of the country after what appears to be a coup. In a sign of ongoing violence, a loud explosion was heard in Ankara Friday evening.

CNN-Turk said the explosion occurred at state-run television building.

The Turkish Dogan news agency reported that the statement said the military took action "to reinstall the constitutional order, democracy, human rights and freedoms, to ensure that the rule of law once again reigns in the country, for the law and order to be reinstated."

The military statement went on to say that "all international agreements and commitments will remain. We pledge that good relations with all world countries will continue."

Turkey's prime minister, Binali Yildirim told NTV television "it is correct that there was an attempt."

Yildirim didn't provide details. "Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command," he said.

However, Yildirim vowed that Turkey would never allow any "initiative that would interrupt democracy."

"The government elected by the people remains in charge," he said. "This government will go only when the people say so."

The whereabouts of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was not immediately clear.

There are also numerous reports of military jets flying over the capital of Ankara, and of ambulances gathering at Turkey's military headquarters.

National Security Council Spokesperson Ned Price said the president has been apprised of the unfolding situation in Turkey, and that he will continue to receive updates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo caption:

Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's iconic Bosporus Bridge on Friday, July 15, 2016, lit in the colours of the French flag in solidarity with the victims of Thursday's attack in Nice, France. A group within Turkey's military has engaged in what appeared to be an attempted coup, the prime minister said, with military jets flying over the capital and reports of vehicles blocking two major bridges in Istanbul. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told NTV television: "it is correct that there was an attempt," when asked if there was a coup. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

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