Turkish police fire tear gas, arrest hundreds at Istanbul May Day rallies
Email: online@newsofbahrain.com
Ankara: Turkish police fired tear gas and arrested hundreds of demonstrators during International Workers’ Day rallies in Istanbul on Friday. At least 370 people were taken into custody as authorities moved to block protesters from reaching Taksim Square, a symbolic site sealed off by massive police deployments and metal barricades.
In several districts, riot-control vehicles discharged tear gas into crowds, and officers were seen violently grounding protesters who attempted to bypass police lines.
The unrest, occurring under the slogan ‘Bread. Peace. Freedom,’ follows high inflation rates and a series of pre-emptive warrants issued against journalists and activists. While Istanbul saw the most intense clashes, thousands rallied nationwide.
In Ankara, a large crowd including 100 coal miners who recently ended a nine-day hunger strike over unpaid wages marched under heavy security. Despite the crackdown, union leaders denounced the lockdown of public spaces, demanding that the hardships of the working class be heard.
Related Posts