Claims of coming police raid at park might be provocations: Governor

ISTANBUL

Mutlu was one of the most criticized officials following the crackdown against protesters in Istanbul that left thousands injured. DHA photo

The Istanbul governor has urged calm following the spreading of rumors via Twitter that police are planning a new raid against protesters that settled into Taksim Gezi Park a week ago. 

“The claims since yesterday that an intervention is being prepared for Taksim Gezi Park could be claims from people who are trying to provoke violence. Be careful,” Hüseyin Avni Mutlu wrote today on his Twitter account.  
 
The Istanbul police could take action next week to empty Gezi Park, where protestors have been remaining 24 hours a day since June 1 when widespread protests forced police to abandon the park. Protesters have already converted the park into a small-scale utopia where everything is free and which also includes a market, library and playgrounds for children. 
 
Mutlu was one of the most criticized officials following the crackdown against protesters in Istanbul that left thousands injured. Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who has supported the protesters from the beginning of their sit-in, has previously slammed Mutlu for being insensitive.