A DAY OF RENEWED VIOLENCE IN ISTANBUL
- This morning police entered Taksim square supposedly to clear the flags and banners of the monument and the Ataturk Cultural Center.
- Soon they clash with protestors who throw rocks and petrol bombs.
- On the social media these violent protestors are widely condemned as being agents provocateurs.
- The police use tear gas and water cannons to attack peaceful protestors, but mysteriously appear to be unable to stop a handful of masked men from throwing their petrol bombs.
- The police move on to Gezi Park and start pulling down tents and banners.
- A large crowd peacefully pushes the police back, after which they retreat back to the square.
- AKP vows to begin censoring Twitter, claiming it to be “more dangerous than a car bomb.”
- Erdoğan gives a speech in parliament, saying “If my reaction is considered too tough, then I’m sorry. I am Tayyip Erdoğan, I can’t change that.” He also thanked the police for clearing Taksim Square and removing “rags” from the Ataturk monument.
- In the largest courthouse of Istanbul, police arrest between 40 and 70 lawyers who are protesting against the violent treatment of the protestors.
- On Twitter, Caroll Bogert, working for Human Rights Watch, repeats a report from the Gezi Park first-aid tent that one man has died after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister. Dozen protestors also hospitalized after being shot by tear gas canisters in the head, several of whom remain in critical condition. The reports remain unconfirmed.
- In the afternoon scuffles continue between protestors and the police.
- In the early evening the crowd in Taksim Square grows and grows, the police is forced to retreat.
- The lawyers are reportedly released.
- Tens of thousands of protestors are expected in the square tonight, to show their solidarity and determination not to succumb to repressive state violence and peacefully claim their right to protest.
- Soon they clash with protestors who throw rocks and petrol bombs.
- On the social media these violent protestors are widely condemned as being agents provocateurs.
- The police use tear gas and water cannons to attack peaceful protestors, but mysteriously appear to be unable to stop a handful of masked men from throwing their petrol bombs.
- The police move on to Gezi Park and start pulling down tents and banners.
- A large crowd peacefully pushes the police back, after which they retreat back to the square.
- AKP vows to begin censoring Twitter, claiming it to be “more dangerous than a car bomb.”
- Erdoğan gives a speech in parliament, saying “If my reaction is considered too tough, then I’m sorry. I am Tayyip Erdoğan, I can’t change that.” He also thanked the police for clearing Taksim Square and removing “rags” from the Ataturk monument.
- In the largest courthouse of Istanbul, police arrest between 40 and 70 lawyers who are protesting against the violent treatment of the protestors.
- On Twitter, Caroll Bogert, working for Human Rights Watch, repeats a report from the Gezi Park first-aid tent that one man has died after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister. Dozen protestors also hospitalized after being shot by tear gas canisters in the head, several of whom remain in critical condition. The reports remain unconfirmed.
- In the afternoon scuffles continue between protestors and the police.
- In the early evening the crowd in Taksim Square grows and grows, the police is forced to retreat.
- The lawyers are reportedly released.
- Tens of thousands of protestors are expected in the square tonight, to show their solidarity and determination not to succumb to repressive state violence and peacefully claim their right to protest.
