Police in Istanbul cracked down on May Day demonstrators, preventing union members, activists, and students from gathering in Taksim Square and arresting dozens.
International Workers' Day in Turkey was marked once again by clashes between police and various groups attempting to gather and march in Istanbul's Taksim Square. Bollards were placed throughout the streets of Taksim, prohibiting any passage.
The day began with police preventing the gathering of Insaat-Iş and Enerji-Sen union members in Taksim leading to several arrests.
Later in the morning, members of the People's Liberation Party (HKP) were also met with police intervention as they attempted to march from Besiktas to Taksim. The clashes resulted in dozens of arrests, and the prohibition of movement in the square's surrounding streets.
Despite this, various groups attempted to march towards Taksim throughout the day, leading to further arrests and confrontations with the police.
