Large-scale arrests of soldiers and purge of judges have taken place in Turkey after the unsuccessful attempt for a coup carried out by a group within the Turkish military overnight.

The coup started late on Friday night when a group within the military claimed that it had taken control over the state and imposed martial law and curfew.

The plotters appeared to had established control over strategic locations in Istanbul and Ankara, including the two bridges over the Bosphorus and Ataturk airport in Istanbul.

Military jets could be seen flying over Ankara and the rebels had also reportedly taken the Turkish Chief of Staff hostage at the military headquarters. They also had seized the building of the state broadcaster.

Denouncing the rebels, Turkish President Recep Erdogan called on the people to take to the streets and oppose the attempted coup.

This was followed by armed clashes between pro-government police officers and armed forces and the rebel soldiers. Civilians were also involved in the ensuing clashes.

The buildings of the Turkish parliament and presidential palace in Ankara were bombed. Helicopters of both the police and the rebels were downed.

By Saturday afternoon, it appears that the government has mostly regained control and succeeded in crushing the coup, with most of the rebels having surrendered.

According to latest information, a total of 104 pro-coup soldiers were killed and 2839 other arrested.

Among the casualties on the side of the government were two soldiers and 41 police officers.

At least 47 civilians were killed in the clashes and a total of 1440 people were injured.

Shortly after the failure of the coup, Turkey's Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors sustained 2745 judges suspected of being linked to US-based Fethullah Gulen. The government claims that supporters of Gulen were behind the coup.

The general assembly of the supreme council ended the membership of its five judges, Hurriyet Daily News informs.

Another 48 members of the Council of State were detained, while 140 members of the Supreme Court of Appeals were issued with arrest warrants.

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