TURKEY COUP: 17 police officers killed as F16 strikes down military controlled helicopter
A HELICOPTER controlled by Turkish coup plotters has killed 17 police officers as government forces and military dissidents clash in Ankara.
There are unconfirmed reports that an F-16 fighter jet has shot down the helicopter
The nation’s state run news agency claim that the helicopter attacked the police special forces head quarters in the outskirts of the turkish capital.
Meanwhile there are unconfirmed reports that an F-16 fighter jet has shot down the helicopter.
The police force, who narrowly outnumber the total number of active military personnel in the country, could be key to turning the tide in the favour of President Erdogan.
The helicopter attacked the police special forces head quarters in the outskirts of Ankara
Meanwhile the Turkish leader has called on civilians to fight back in the name of his leadership.
He said: “There is no power above national will in this country
“As the president of this country I am inviting the people to squares and to streets
“We’ll give them a lesson they need by doing so.
“We have 45 million voters who represent the national will of this country“
The police narrowly outnumber the military in Turkey
Civilians flee as as helicopter shot at from the ground in Turkey
The action comes just two days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a bill giving wide-ranging immunity to the Turkish military.
In a statement sent by email and reported on Turkish TV channels, the military said all of Turkey's existing foreign relations would be maintained and that the rule of law would remain the priority.
Military officials said the country was now run by a 'peace council'.
They claim secular rule had been eroded by the current government.