Swiss use tear gas, rubber bullets to break up Kurdish rally

ZURICH - Reuters

AFP photo

Zurich police used tear gas and rubber bullets to try to break up a group of around 100 activists holding an unauthorized demonstration outside the Turkish consulate in Switzerland’s financial capital on Feb. 8.

Police said the crowd threw stones, flags and other objects at the building, forcing authorities to seal off the area. One person was detained in the incident, which followed a largely peaceful march by demonstrators through downtown Zurich in the morning.

Police said the demonstrators were protesting against conditions in Turkey.

At least nine civilians and 16 militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) died during the clashes with the security forces in Turkey’s southeastern towns, the army said on Feb. 8.