ISTANBUL: Turkish police on Monday used tear gas to disperse a group of protesters as they sought to defy a ban and march to Istanbul’s Taksim square to celebrate May Day.
Police tried to stop around 200 protesters in the Gayrettepe district on the European side of Istanbul who wanted to walk to the famous square in spite of the ban by city authorities.
“Long Live May Day, No to the dictator!” the banners read. At least one protester was detained, according to the agencies.
Turkish authorities imposed a ban on any demonstration at Taksim square, with police sealing off the avenue with barricades.
Several thousand people attended celebrations in an officially designated area in Bakirkoy district near the international airport on the city’s western side.
