More than 100 arrested and several people reported dead in Turkey clashes
- 10 years ago
More than 100 people have been arrested during clashes between police and protesters in Turkey.
A number of people were reportedly killed in the unrest and thousands more injured.
Riot police used water cannon and fired teargas to disperse the demonstrators who were marking the one-year anniversary of the start of the country’s deadly anti-government demonstrations.
In Istanbul a reported 25,000 police were deployed in Taksim Square – the centre of the 2013 rallies.
Several thousand people gathered near to the square, shouting for the government to step down, but fled when authorities opened fire.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier warned against joining the protests.
“If you attempt to go there, I’m sorry, but the security forces have clear orders,” he said. “They will do whatever is necessary, with no exceptions.”
Polls suggest Erdogan remains Turkey’s most popular politician despite last year’s mass anti-government rallies; the biggest seen in the country in 30 years. They flared up after a heavy-handed police response to protests against the redevelopment of Gezi Park.
A number of people were reportedly killed in the unrest and thousands more injured.
Riot police used water cannon and fired teargas to disperse the demonstrators who were marking the one-year anniversary of the start of the country’s deadly anti-government demonstrations.
In Istanbul a reported 25,000 police were deployed in Taksim Square – the centre of the 2013 rallies.
Several thousand people gathered near to the square, shouting for the government to step down, but fled when authorities opened fire.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had earlier warned against joining the protests.
“If you attempt to go there, I’m sorry, but the security forces have clear orders,” he said. “They will do whatever is necessary, with no exceptions.”
Polls suggest Erdogan remains Turkey’s most popular politician despite last year’s mass anti-government rallies; the biggest seen in the country in 30 years. They flared up after a heavy-handed police response to protests against the redevelopment of Gezi Park.