Schoolkids in Turkey ‘celebrate’ Highway Traffic Safety Week experimenting with riot control vehicles

ISTANBUL

DHA Photo

Schoolchildren in the eastern Turkish province of Şırnak experimented with riot control vehicles with water cannons known as TOMAs as part of Highway Traffic Safety Week activities. 

Students from Nene Hatun Primary School in the Silopi district of Şırnak visited the local police department, guided by teams from the community policing unit, as part of the week’s activities. 

While at the station, the children were allowed to enter the TOMA vehicles and to try using the water cannons. 
The head teacher of the school, Hayriye Soydoğan, expressed her gratitude to the police department after the visit.

“We are thankful for the activities organized as part of the May 1-7 traffic week,” Soydoğan said. 

“There were performances with TOMAs and panzers. Children entered these vehicles and experienced them first hand,” she added. 

The widespread use of TOMAs by Turkish police has become controversial, especially since their deployment during the nationwide Gezi Park protests in the summer of 2013. The government signed a deal worth 13.6 million euros in October 2014 to buy an additional 65 TOMAs for use throughout Turkey.