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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reportedly fled the country in a private jet following a military coup.

In the last few hours gunfire has been heard in the Turkish capital Ankara as military jets and helicopters were seen flying overhead.

In Istanbul, the Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge have been closed, along with Attaturk airport where tanks and soldiers have been seen.

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Meanwhile soldiers have reportedly raided Istanbul Police Department headquarters, requesting the policemen handover their weapons.

Gunfire has also been heard at the police station, according to statements on Twitter.

The current situation inside the building is not clear as yet.

The state TV channel has been taken off air, while internet access has been cut across the country.

The Turkish chief of staff has reportedly been taken ‘hostage’ by the army.

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Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said those responsible for what he described as an attempted coup by a faction within the military would pay the highest price.

He says they would not be allowed to do anything to interrupt democracy.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: Getty)

“Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command,” Yildirim said in comments broadcast by private channel NTV.

“The government elected by the people remains in charge. This government will only go when the people say so.”

Minutes later the military issued a statement saying it had taken over.

The military says all existing foreign relations will continue and “the rule of law must remain a priority."

(Image: Getty) (Image: DHA)

Photographs and video footage show armed soldiers with tanks on the streets of a number of major cities in Turkey, with claims a curfew has been put in place.

However the mayor of Ankara has reportedly called people out into the streets in defiance of a curfew, suggesting trouble could erupt imminently.

(Image: Twitter)

(Image: Twitter)

All flights at the Instanbul main airport have reportedly been grounded and tanks have seen outside.

Footage uploaded to Twitter appears to show soldiers in Istanbul shouting at motorists "There is a curfew, everybody go home."

American media has reported a steep drop in the value of the Turkish Lira against the dollar as the incident unfolds.