Sound bomb blast near protest supporting hunger strikers

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

DHA photo

A group of Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputies and supporters attempted to stage a protest in front of the Bakırköy women's prison in support of the ongoing hunger strike by hundreds of prisoners.

The Istanbul police had already taken security measures in front of the prison to prevent unauthorized protests. After the police refused to allow a demonstration, Istanbul deputies Sebahat Tuncel and Levent Tüzel issued a statement calling the government to change its policies about the political prisoners.

Some of the protesters conducted a short sit-in and then dispersed without incident. While the group was dispersing, three sound bombs exploded nearby.

After the bomb blasts the police stopped traffic briefly on the E-5 highway.

The police have launched an investigation into the incident.