Approximately 17 Turkish police officers were killed early Saturday morning after a helicopter carrying the law enforcement members was attacked on the outskirts of capital city Ankara, according to the country’s state-run Anadolu Agency.
The Turkish prosecutor’s office said at least 42 people have been killed in attacks.
Witnesses reported a large blast in Istanbul around 2:30 a.m. local time Saturday. Fox News reported a bomb hit the Turkish Parliament in Ankara shortly after.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the prime minister has given orders to “eradicate” those shooting from the air, according to the Associated Press.
The growing violence comes hours after Turkish military forces launched a coup Friday evening, attempting to throw President Recep Tayyip Erdogan out.
Thousands of citizens broke out into the streets, protesting the defense ministry’s power grab.
The military seized full country of the country, but around 2:00 a.m. local time the government said the coup attempt had been “repelled.”
