Police Intervene Newroz Celebrations in Ankara University

Police and private security forces intervened Newroz celebrations in Ankara University this afternoon, casting tear gas bombs and wounding several students.

Hundreds of students assembled in Ankara's Cebeci district to peacefully celebrate the upcoming spring equinox, a major tradition among Turkey's Kurdish people.

A tension broke out when a student protested an non- uniformed police officer's entry to the university campus, resulting dozens wounded including security staff.

Another tension occurred when some students flashed a banner demanding freedom to PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and special status to Turkey's "Kurdistan" region. Police intervened students with water cannons.  

In another spot next to the political science faculty building, police casted tear gas bombs. Students set up barricades to block police access to the building.

The university administration announced that all exams campus wide have been cancelled today.

While some professors negotiated with police forces for students' safe exit from campus, police left the campus towards 3:20pm and students resumed their Newroz celebration. (SK/HK/BM)