A military helicopter opened fire over capital Ankara, as witnesses heard an explosion in the capital after a group from the military announced that it had launched a coup to take over the government.

The military earlier said in a statement it was taking control of the government. President Tayyip Erdoğan and government officials have said the coup lacks broad support within the military. Erdoğan has called on citizens to take to the streets in defiance.

Military helicopters also attacked the headquarters of TURKSAT satellite station and the National Intellegence Agency.

Earlier tanks had opened fire around the parliament building in Ankara while gunfire was also heard at Atatürk airport in Istanbul.

A Turkish military faction attempting a coup has control of some tanks and has ordered its forces to try to take over the streets but has been unable do so in many areas, a senior Turkish government official also said on Friday.

The official also said that insecurity was likely to continue for the next 24 hours but would be continued.