Police Attacks Gezi Resistance in Eskişehir

Early this morning, police attacked protestors who set up tents in Espark area of the central province of Eskişehir to support the Gezi Resistance. 

According to İrem Dönmez, a former bianet intern and student at Eskişehir’s Anadolu University, police raid took place around 5:30 am local time, escorted by two TOMA vehicles and dozers. 

She told bianet that 200 protestors were sleeping at their tents at the time of police raid - which caused panic. 

“There were so many undercover police officers among us. [Raid police] were calling us with our first names. After some police officers said ‘You are all betrayers. You probably can’t even sign our national anthem’, a group of protestors began chanting the national anthem of Turkey. In the meanwhile, they all recorded our faces with cametas,” she said. 

“After the chanting was over, police said we only had three minutes to pack up and disperse. They started using water cannons after the group refused to yield in.

“First the water was red, then orange. I have experienced TOMA water before, this was different with a burning sensation. Nobody could breath after the water spraying.  

“They came into the tents with handcuffs. The surveillance camera were removed by the police. 

“We ran away to from Üniversite Avenue to Aytaç Avenue after the police attack. Those who ran to side streets were detained by the police. Police also recorded people who were protesting the detentions by making noise with pans from their apartments. We estimate the number of detentions around 30. 

“We tried to collect canisters and water sprayed by police raid. However, police blocked our efforts. After the attack, municipality workers promptly cleaned the area. And canisters were pushed into sewer grids.”

"As of 10.20 am local time, protestors started barricading Espark again." (EKN/BM)

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