UPDATES WITH THE NUMBER OF DETAINEES IN ISTANBUL
ANKARA, ISTANBUL (AA) – May Day demonstrations in Turkey are taking place, marked by widespread security measures as almost 24,500 police officers patrol the streets of Istanbul, backed by helicopters.
A total of 170 people have been detained for unauthorized demonstrations in Istanbul, according to police there.
Officers intervened against many groups across several Istanbul neighborhoods including Sisli, Besiktas, Beyoglu, Zeytinburnu and Bakirkoy.
A number of Molotov cocktails, fireworks, spray-paint cans, documents and banners were seized.
In the Turkish capital, Ankara police detained four people suspected of trying to infiltrate the local May 1 International Labor Day rally.
Turkish security officials told an Anadolu Agency correspondent that the Ankara police-intelligence department detained the four suspects at the intercity bus terminal, known as ASTI. The four reportedly came from Syria and carried Iraqi passports.
The suspects were transferred to the city’s anti-terror department for questioning.
Police in Turkey’s capital also say they detained four Daesh members suspected of preparing an attack.
Turkish security officials told an Anadolu Agency correspondent that the Ankara anti-terror department detained the four suspects at midnight on Saturday.
Saturday’s arrests followed technical and physical surveillance and it is reported that the suspects are from Syria.
Over 4,000 police officers are on duty in Ankara.
Security measures have been tightened in Kolej circle, near Kizilay in the city center, where May Day demonstrations take place.
Demonstrations in Istanbul have been allowed to take place in an open area of the Bakirkoy neighborhood on the city’s European side. However, gatherings at the city’s famous Taksim Square site have been banned by the authorities.
Public transport in Istanbul has been affected, with several roads to Bakirkoy being closed to traffic. Taksim’s metro station has also been shut down.
In the meantime, thousands of members and supporters of Turkish labor unions are being checked by police before entering the Bakirkoy site. Roads to the rally point and streets near the area have been closed off with barricades.
May 1 is celebrated by many labor unions and workers worldwide. May Day is generally a public holiday in many countries and is an official holiday in Turkey.
