Nationwide Gezi Park protests in Turkey see police intervention overnight

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Protesters supporting the ongoing Gezi Park demonstrations were subjected to police attacks overnight in various cities. AA photo

Protesters supporting the ongoing Gezi Park demonstrations were subjected to police attacks overnight in various cities, with tension especially rising in Adana and Ankara.

Ankara crowds again suffered a harsh police barrage, with officers using TOMA water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters that had gathered at the city’s Kızılay Square. Demonstrators had to flee to side streets as police forces attempted to empty the square.

Police also moved on the capital’s Kuğulu Park in the early hours of today to dismantle tents that had been erected in solidarity with the action continuing in Taksim Gezi Park. Despite initial opposition, subsequent reports said the officers had succeeded in taking down the tents in the park. Protesters in Adana also faced police attacks when they attempted to march toward Akkapı district in order to join another demonstrating group that had been subjected to violent behavior from a group of Justice and Development Party (AKP) supporters the night before.

Police denied permission to the group to march and called on the protesters to disperse. When the group refused, police intervened with TOMAs and tear gas, following protesters down to the end of Çakmak Street to completely disband the crowd.

Protests in Edirne and İzmir also gathered thousands in support of the Gezi Park demonstrations, with over 2,000 protesters marching in Edirne and 10,000 in İzmir. There was brief tension in İzmir stemming from opposing groups, but the problem was quickly resolved.