Scores of Turkish protesters have been injured after they attempted to defy a government ban on demonstrations that were to be held in Istanbul's iconic Taksim Square on May Day.
Authorities today shut down public transport, streets were closed and the square barricaded off in an effort to prevent any protests taking place by those critical of President Tayyip Erdogan's government.
Despite the ban and strong police presence, opposition parties and some unions had announced they would defy the ban and march to the square from the nearby Beşiktaş neighborhood to protest Erdogan's increasingly authoritative behaviour, despite the authorities making it clear that only 500 people would be allowed in the area for a remembrance ceremony for the victims of the May Day 1977, when 34 people were killed.
According to Hurriyet Daily News, as thousands began to march to the square this morning, a 40,000 strong police force used tear gas, a water cannon, and rubber bullet rounds to disperse the crowd. Up to 142 protesters have been detained, according to local media reports.
The Istanbul Medical Association say scores of people have been injured. "At least four people suffered a head concussion, one person had a sight-threatening eye injury, one person broke his arm, between 15 and 20 people were injured after being hit by tear-gas canisters and hundreds were admitted to hospital due to high exposure to tear gas," Ümit Şen, said in a statement.
Protests have also taken place in Ankara. A woman braved the authorities by sitting in front of a water cannon truck, refusing to let it pass. As she held her ID pass in her hands, police fired pressurised water on her.
Newsweek's Alev Scott, on the streets today in Istanbul, tweeted that it was "difficult to breathe" after the authorities fired gas cannisters on the crowd.
Police just warned ppl to disperse before firing gas canisters. Everyone running, difficult to breathe
— Alev Scott (@AlevScott) May 1, 2015
Protesters chanting just before police used megaphones to tell ppl to disperse. Now recovering in side sts coughing pic.twitter.com/lBCi7vCxiX
— Alev Scott (@AlevScott) May 1, 2015
Erdogan had said earlier in a statement that Taksim would only be open to those who came peacefully and not for "illegal demonstrations". "I wish May 1 to be celebrated in a festive mood without provocations", the statement read.
Taksim Square became of focal point of unrest against the government in 2013, when protesters began a peaceful protest over plans to redevelop Gezi Park. The demonstrations soon descended into violence after a police crackdown.
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