01:16Turkey: Running battles in Taksim intensify
Turkey: Running battles in Taksim intensify
Clashes have turned into a battle in Istanbul's Taksim Square after hours of fighting between protesters and riot police on Tuesday.
The police entered the square for the first time over nine days on Tuesday in order to remove barricades and banners, with demonstrators responding with molotov cocktails, stones and fireworks. Protesters set police cars and barricades set by police on fire.
Protesters resisted leaving Taksim Square despite the actions by Turkish police attempting to disperse them. The make-shift camp site which had been fortified with barricades, is now being dismantled by authorities.
The severity of the protesters' response reportedly led to a retreat from the police ahead of employing water cannons, rubber bullets and teargas against the crowd. Reportedly teargas canisters hit protesters as the clashes became more violent.
Clashes saw water cannons lit on fire by molotov cocktails and protesters sprayed by water cannon fire. Police repeatedly fired teargas, leaving plumes of gas covering the square.
The governor of Istanbul, Huseyin Avni Mutlu, defended these actions, stating: "This was negatively affecting our country's image in the eyes of the world opinion leading to reaction within society".
Mutlu originally stated the intention was not to clear the square. The actions of police services could provoke an escalation in tensions, after Turkey's unrest calmed down. Protesters in Istanbul and throughout Turkey have stated their intentions and demands, which have yet to be met.
01:16NONE
Turkey: Running battles in Taksim intensify
Clashes have turned into a battle in Istanbul's Taksim Square after hours of fighting between protesters and riot police on Tuesday.
The police entered the square for the first time over nine days on Tuesday in order to remove barricades and banners, with demonstrators responding with molotov cocktails, stones and fireworks. Protesters set police cars and barricades set by police on fire.
Protesters resisted leaving Taksim Square despite the actions by Turkish police attempting to disperse them. The make-shift camp site which had been fortified with barricades, is now being dismantled by authorities.
The severity of the protesters' response reportedly led to a retreat from the police ahead of employing water cannons, rubber bullets and teargas against the crowd. Reportedly teargas canisters hit protesters as the clashes became more violent.
Clashes saw water cannons lit on fire by molotov cocktails and protesters sprayed by water cannon fire. Police repeatedly fired teargas, leaving plumes of gas covering the square.
The governor of Istanbul, Huseyin Avni Mutlu, defended these actions, stating: "This was negatively affecting our country's image in the eyes of the world opinion leading to reaction within society".
Mutlu originally stated the intention was not to clear the square. The actions of police services could provoke an escalation in tensions, after Turkey's unrest calmed down. Protesters in Istanbul and throughout Turkey have stated their intentions and demands, which have yet to be met.