Part of the military is attempting a coup in Turkey, the country’s Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said, following reports of military jets and helicopters flying low over Ankara and Istanbul.

"Some people took illegal action outside of the chain of command," Yildirim told news network NTV. "The government elected by the people remains in charge. This government will only go when the people say so," he added.

According to the PM, Turkish security forces were doing what needs to be done to resolve the situation.

Ankara Gölbaşı arkası. Uçak sesi sonrası bomba patladı. pic.twitter.com/PAeOM61IAa — Nevzat Çelik (@gallagherr__) July 15, 2016

The Turkish military has issued a statement saying that it has taken over power in the country from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“Turkish Armed Forces have completely taken over the administration of the country to reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedoms, the rule of law and general security that was damaged,” the statement read.

CNN Turk later reported that president Erdogan, was safe, despite claims by the military that they’ve taken over.

According to Reuters, the coup attempt occurred when Erdogan was on vacation outside the country.

According to various reports, a curfew has been declared in Turkey amid the ongoing attempted coup.

State-run Anadolu news agency reported that the Turkish military chief of staff, Hulusi Akar, was among those taken hostage by the pro-coup forces in Ankara. The hostages are being held at military HQ in the capital.

The office of Erdogan’s ruling AKP party in Istanbul has been surrounded by soldiers, according to Twitter reports.

AKP HQ office in Istanbul has been surrounded by military. pic.twitter.com/WsulA0OwqP — Has Avrat (@hasavrat) July 15, 2016

Earlier, a military helicopter has reportedly opened fire in the district of Ankara where the Turkish National Intelligence Organization headquarters is situated.

According to local news agencies, a large number of ambulance vehicles has been sent towards the Turkish General Staff building in the capital.

Ankara’s mayor, Ibrahim Melih Gokcek, used Twitter to call on all the citizens to take to the streets.

“Everybody to the streets,” he wrote.

Footage shows rapid movement of military jets in #Istanbul, army deployed to streets, two main bridges closed. pic.twitter.com/k9LAr5seQK — Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) 15 июля 2016 г.

Shooting is being reported in the Turkish capital, Ankara, with military jets and helicopters seen in the sky above the city.

Curfew seems to have been enforced in Istanbul - army troops asking people to go home



pic.twitter.com/3o9lSbUNfF — omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) July 15, 2016

According to reports on Twitter, the authorities have closed the two Bosporus bridges in Istanbul, where military jets have also been spotted flying.

Both Bosphorus bridges (Asia to Europe access) closed by troops, @cnnturk reports. Police helicopters over Beyoglu. pic.twitter.com/C8pm1GvX1P — Piotr Zalewski (@p_zalewski) July 15, 2016

All flights were cancelled at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul where tanks were deployed on Friday night.

Ankara Genelkurmay'ın önü pic.twitter.com/qSmPdOMIGk — Çınar Livane Özer (@CinarOzer) July 15, 2016

Facebook and Twitter services were blocked in Ankara on Friday, RIA-Novosti reported.

Turkish soldiers block both bridges on the Bosphorus in Istanbul and jets flying low in Ankara. Reason not clear yet pic.twitter.com/tMG7KKYvGh — Selin Girit (@selingirit) July 15, 2016

According to local media, all security personnel have been urgently called in to work.

Turkish state-run television network TRT has been shut down, Bloomberg reported.