Swiss police use rubber bullets to disperse PKK protest

GENEVA – Anadolu Agency

Swiss police used rubber bullets to disperse protesters unauthorized demonstration by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on April 7 in the capital Bern, local media reported on April 8.

Clashes between police and protesters were also reported, according to Swiss daily Blick.

The police intervened after demonstrators indulged in acts of vandalism, the Swissinfo news agency reported.

Some 400 protesters had gathered to protest Turkey’s ongoing operation in the northwestern Syrian district of Afrin, as well as Swiss arms exports, the reports said.

The protesters lit a bonfire and sprayed the buildings with paint, despite warnings by police.

Police also took the details of at least 239 protesters.

Swissinfo said the damage to property amounted to hundreds of thousands of Swiss francs.

Back in February 2016, PKK supporters had pelted stones at the Turkish Consulate in Zurich.