An attempted military coup to overthrow the government has been foiled in Turkey. A military faction attempted to oust president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing him of undermining the country's secular traditions.

The government has since issued a statement saying the coup failed. Turkey's prime minister, Binali Yildirim, said 161 people were killed in the attempt to overthrow the government but that number doesn't include the death toll of the assailants. More than 28 hundred members of the military have been arrested. Gunfire and explosions were heard both in Istanbul and the capital, Ankara.

"This action is a betrayal. It is an uprising, and let me say, these people will pay a very heavy price for their betrayal of the motherland. They've not been able to digest or accept a government that has been elected by the people, or their commander in chief, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was elected as per the constitution. This won't be a means to an end for them," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish President.