On Friday night soldiers took control of Istanbul’s two main bridges across the Bosphorus and flew F-16 fighter jets low in Ankara. Soldiers stormed into private and state-run broadcasters taking control with relative ease.

However, in a country which has seen three military coups and one where direct force was not used there has always been signs of fault lines that could prompt such a move.

Mass arrests after coup

Turkey’s PM Binali Yildirim said that some 2,839 soldiers, including high-ranking officers, have been arrested after this attempted coup that is now over. 2,745 Turkish judges have also been dismissed in the wake of the coup.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed Fethullah Gulen, a powerful but reclusive US-based Muslim cleric whom he accuses of fomenting unrest.

Erdogan addressed the large crowds after landing at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport. He said that they have pointed the people’s guns against the people. The president, whom 52 per cent of the people brought to power, is in charge. This government brought to power by the people is in charge.

The military did not appear unified. The top commanders went on television to condemn the action and order troops back to their barracks.

Erdogan, appearing on television over a mobile phone, had urged supporters into the streets to defend his government, and large crowds heeded his call.

People faced off against troops who had blocked key bridges over the Bosporus that link the Asian and European sides of Istanbul.