Police intervene at Istanbul’s Taksim Square, enter Gezi Park

Police intervened once again in Istanbul’s Taksim Square using tear gas and water cannons to quell the protesters an hour after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ultimatum to evacuate the Gezi Park before tomorrow.

Ambulances were seen entering the park following the intervention. Police have also entered the park for the first time after two weeks. Security forces took over the park, demolishing the tents of the protesters. Dozers worked to clear the remaining barricades around the park. Protesters had started a few hours earlier to remove the barricades standing at the entrance of te park following hours of dicussion on their next move. The police have also cordoned off the Taksim Square.

Ambulances have also started picking injured people from Divan hotel at the Harbiye entrance of the park, which has been used by the protesters as a health center from the beginning of the protests. Protesters sang the national anthem in a bid to prevent police attack on the hotel.

The riot police stationed in front of the Atatürk Cultural Center made announcements before the intervention asking protesters to disperse from the park.

The protesters had earlier decided to stay at the park following the government’s assurance that it will comply with a court decision that suspends the redevelopment plans for the site.

The Taksim Solidarity Platform which launched the protests two weeks ago had also called for a mass meeting tomorrow at 4 p.m.

There was a vast crowd, including kids and elderly people in the park, only minutes before the police raid.

15.06.2013
SOURCE: HURRIYETDAILYNEWS.COM