Irish in Istanbul: It was the most terrifying night of my life

An Irish woman working in Istanbul has described her terror during the attempted military coup in Turkey on Friday night.

“I’ve lived here through several bomb blasts, and you do get desensitised, but last night was the most terrifying night of my life.”

Following confirmation at around 10.30pm on Friday that the coup was underway, people left their homes to get water, food and cash. Shots could be heard, but she said it was later when the horror of what was happening hit home.

“We had to go into the basement, from about 2.30am to 5am, there were F15 fighter jets flying so low that they shook the entire building, it was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced.

“What adds to that fear is not knowing what’s going on, not knowing are they they good guys or the bad guys in the sky, just having no idea what’s really happening.”

While residents of the city could have expected to emerge to scenes of devastation the next morn ing, there was she said an atmosphere of calm on the streets.

“It’s actually typically Turkish – and something I’ve experienced after bomb blasts – it was like nothing had ever happened. Everyone was just going about their business.

“Apart from some abandoned military vehicles in the street, everything appeared to be normal. After the curfew was lifted people were encouraged to come out into the streets and they did, as is their form here.”

However she said some of her colleagues have already left Istanbul and crossed borders into Europe. She, has yet to decide whether she will remain in the country.

“It is a fantastic country, but I’m undecided about my future here. You can normalise these things, but I don’t think I can see myself staying here long term now.”