Turkish police fire tear gas at May Day demonstrators in Istanbul
Police in Istanbul fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a group of May Day demonstrators on Monday as authorities detained more than 200 people at protests around the city, meantime confiscating 40 Molotov cocktails and 17 hand grenades, Reuters reports.
The source notes that protests for May Day, the international workers' holiday, are an annual occurrence in Turkey and have in the past been characterized by widespread police actions against demonstrators.
Protests were expected to be more subdued this year after unions said they would not attempt to march on Taksim Square, a traditional rallying point for anti-government protests that has been declared off-limits for demonstrators.
Police presence was heavy across the city, with helicopters buzzing overhead. As the news agency reminds, tensions are particularly high after Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan narrowly won a referendum last month giving him sweeping new powers.