Investigation into Police Intervention for ‘Violating Coronavirus Curfew’

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Sitting in front of their house in Çorlu district in Tekirdağ, two people were detained for "resisting against police officers" yesterday (May 24).

After the video of the incident, where the officers were seen to be battering the citizens while detaining them, was shared on social media, the incident has caused public outrage. The officers have been suspended from duty and an investigation has been launched against them.

As part of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak measures, a country-wide curfew has been imposed in all provinces of Turkey for four days on the Ramadan feast from May 23 to May 26.

However, the two detained were sitting in their garden.

Statement by the Governor's Office

The Governor's Office of Tekirdağ released a statement about the incident today. According to the statement of the office, after the police received a tip that the curfew was being violated in the vicinity of Selimiye Mosque in Silahtarağa Neighborhood, a police team affiliated with the Çorlu District Security Directorate went to the scene of incident.

"The two persons resisting against the officers on duty threatened the police officers with lynch," the statement has read and added:

"Two suspects insulting police officers were subdued by the teams. The knife called a 'switchblade' that one of the suspects had on him was taken from him by his own consent. While an administrative action has been taken against the two persons for violating the curfew, they were also taken into custody for 'resisting against the officer on duty'."

In reference to the police officers, it has been indicated that they used excessive force in intervening against the citizens and they have been suspended from duty. An administrative and legal investigation has also been launched against the officers, the Office has noted.

In the video shared on social media, the police officers can be seen while dragging the people on the ground to detain them:

(AS/SD)