Turkish military attempted coup, two bridges shut

ISTANBUL: Turkish security forces on Friday partially shut down the two bridges across the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul as military jets were heard flying low over Ankara, reports and AFP correspondents said.

The Bosphorus and Fatih bridges were closed by the gendarmerie -- a branch of the Turkish military dedicated to internal security -- for traffic travelling from Asia to Europe, NTV television said. Traffic was still moving in the other direction.

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Meanwhile, Turkish military aircraft were heard flying low over Ankara, AFP correspondents in the capital reported. There was no immediate explanation for the cause of the incidents.

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According to reports of the Associated Press, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said a group within the military was engaged in an attempted coup. Yildirim didn't provide details, but said Turkey would never allow any "initiative that would interrupt democracy."