Friday's Big News, In One Ironic Photo

Turkish soldiers were photographed on Friday blocking Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge, which was lit up to honor those who died in the horrific massacre in France a day earlier, as Turkey’s military attempted a coup to take over the country.

Yes, you read that right.

Tensions broke out in Turkey almost 24 hours after a terrorist plowed a truck through a crowd of people celebrating Bastille Day in the coastal French city of Nice. At least 84 innocents lost their lives in France, including 10 children. More than 200 were hurt, and scores remain on life support.

On Friday morning, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his sympathies to the grieving nation.

Hours later, Erdogan’s country descended into violent chaos of its own.

The Turkish military declared it had seized control of the nation, prompting mass protests in the streets as tanks rolled through gunfire and explosions.

Addressing Turks via live broadcast from his phone, Erdogan urged citizens to unite against the attempted takeover. He denounced the coup as “an act of treason” and later said it had failed.

Seventeen police officers have reportedly been killed. A helicopter was shot down by an F-16 fighter jet, a presidential source informed The WorldPost. Hundreds of people have died, and more than 1,400 are injured.

Turkey, gripped by political tensions, was still reeling from suicide bombings that rocked Istanbul’s Ataturk airport just weeks ago, leaving dozens dead and hundreds wounded.

In France, violence has also become all too common.

The French have endured 10 notable terrorist incidents since the start of last year. In January 2015, gunmen invaded the office of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and fatally shot 12 people. In November 2015, terrorists in Paris killed at least 129 people in multiple attacks across the city.

Now, in a painfully familiar state of grief, the nation mourns yet again.

What in the world is going on?