Turkey parliament 'evacuated due to imminent security threat'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MPs have been told to evacuate the Turkish parliament building in Ankara over an unspecified security threat, according to an opposition politician.
The Cumhurriyet newspaper quoted the Peoples' Democracy Party member Ziya Pir as saying: "We have been informed of an attack. The Meclis is being evacuated."
The parliament building was among the public assets bombed by plotters during the coup attempt on the night of July 16.
A dramatic video captured by one MP showed the moment the first bomb hit while politicians were still in session, crashing through the roof into a courtyard.
Meanwhile, an unknown assailant has shot the deputy mayor of Istanbul's Sisli district in the head, Turkish broadcaster NTV reported.
It was not immediately clear whether the incident was linked to Friday's abortive military coup in which more than 200 people were killed. Turkey remains in a state of high tension, though the government says it has the situation fully under control.
NTV reported that the assailant had entered the office of deputy mayor Cemil Candas and then gun shots were heard. Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) runs the prosperous Sisli district. Along with other opposition parties the CHP has condemned the attempted coup.
More than 300 people died and some 1,500 people were injured in the clashes, which ended when soldiers involved in the coup gave up their weapons and handed themselves in.
Turkey's state-run news agency says a total of 103 generals and admirals have been detained for questioning across Turkey over the failed coup.
Anadolu Agency says Monday that 41 of them have been ordered jailed pending trial so far.
Earlier, the agency said prosecutors in Ankara were questioning 27 generals and admirals, including former Air Force commander Gen. Akin Ozturk, who has been described as the ringleader of the foiled uprising.
Ozturk, who remained in active duty, has denied he was involved and insisted he worked to quell the uprising in statements he made to Turkish media.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments