Police Attacks En Masse in Taksim
Police attacked en masse thousands of protestors who assembled in Taksim Square.
By late afternoon, police forces withdrew in front of Atatürk Culture Center (AKM). Other police forces in adjacent Divan Hotel and Harbiye had left their positions.
Previously, Taksim Solidarity announced that they will have a meeting at 7 pm local time.
Police withdrawal gave the impression that they would not disperse the crowd.
At 8:15 pm local time, police attack started as a group of protestors shouted “Police out” slogans.
A flare has been casted to police, according to one of the allegations on how the incident broke out.
By 8:25 pm local time, police did not attack Gezi Park. Though scores were affected by tear gas in the park.
Demonstrators in the square dispersed to Tarlabaşı, Sıraselviler and Harbiye directions.
Clashes concentrated on Harbiye - Elmadağ direction. Sources say that police resumed its attacks in narrow streets. Radikal newspaper claimed that police fired plastic bullets.
At 9:10 pm local time, protestors headed towards Taksim Square again despite police attacks. Responding police gas bombs with fireworks, protestors set a vehicle on fire in the square. While one part of the entire square is under police control, a crowd is gradually forming on other parts.
At 9:45 local time, police attacked en masse activists one more time and regain control in Taksim Square.
At 10 pm local time, even though Governor Hüseyin Avnu Mutlu pledged no police attacks in Gezi Park, police casted gas bombs and water cannon at Gezi Parkers. (EKN/BM)