Turkey, wow.

[topum]

Everyone is clued to their TVs here trying to understand what is going in Turkey. Romanian TV reports that a coup is going on there.

BBC started getting more details (still nothing on CNN):

Turkey's PM has denounced an "illegal action" by a military "group", with bridges closed in Istanbul and aircraft flying low over the capital, Ankara.

Binali Yildirim said the military action was not authorised but it was not a coup. He said that the government remained in charge.

Traffic has been stopped from crossing both the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges in Istanbul.
There are also reports of gunshots in the capital Ankara.

Mr Yildirim told NTV television by telephone: "We are working on the possibility of an attempt. We will not allow this attempt." He did not elaborate.

"Those who are in this illegal act will pay the highest price," he added, saying it would not be correct to describe the move as a "coup".

Wow.

Comments

[topum.livejournal.com]

If Turkey spins out of control and into prolonged violence then I don't know.

People here are already joking that MI8 is behind this. They needed to remove Erdogan after Johnson became foreign secretary because of Johnson's history with Erdogan.

[bluemeanybeany.livejournal.com]

there is a [possibly untrue] rumour of the pub rumour type that Erodgan is currently in the air fleeing here to London after being turned down for asylum by Germany. But that is London-gossip and may not be true.

[topum.livejournal.com]

Yes, aparently this came from some US news channel.

[topum.livejournal.com]

It was NBC. If true, he gave up fast.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I know. But Turkey has had coups before. Really hoping that they know how to do it neatly.

Boris? Sounds like a James Bond plot, only too silly!

[topum.livejournal.com]

Oh my, 17 policemen dead already.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

And the shootings on the Bosphorus Bridge :-(