Istanbul police stage intervention against protesters supporting ODTÜ demos

ISTANBUL

Police used water cannon trucks (TOMA) to disperse the group. AA Photo

Tension escalated in Istanbul after police staged an intervention against a group of 50 people gathered in the Beyoğlu district late on Oct. 22. The group had come together in support of the demonstrations in Ankara against the controversial Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) road project.
 
Police used water cannon trucks (TOMA) to disperse a group that had gathered in front of Galatasaray High School on İstiklal Avenue, near Taksim Square. One person was taken to hospital after being injured due to pressurized water.
 
Ten people were detained when they tried to reach İstiklal Avenue again from the side streets where they had dispersed after the first police intervention. The police also used tear gas to prevent others from gathering at the same place.
 
The protesters were reportedly members of the Istanbul University Forum group.