Officials defend ‘arrest attempt’ of teen protester

İZMİR

The İzmir Governor's Office released photos allegedly showing the boy among protesters during the demos held over the Soma mine disaster.

The Governorate of İzmir on May 19 defended the controversial attempt of the police to arrest a teenager during the protests over the Soma mining disaster.

Officials denied media reports claiming that a 10-year-old boy urinated himself as police tried to detain him as he was passing through a protest with his parents in the Aegean city of İzmir late May 17.

The statement said the boy was 13 years old and had “actively” participated in the protests on May 16-17, also releasing photos allegedly showing him among protesters.

“The wetness of his shorts was caused by a water cannon,” the statement added, stressing the boy was “acting with the directions of the protesting group” and “did not show any signs of fear before or after the police intervention.”

“The boy was taken [by police] away from the group. Certainly, no custody procedures were applied to him,” the governorate said, condemning news reports on the incident as “baseless and with an agenda.”