Photo- Istanbul Gezi Park filled with Teargas

The Turkish police’s crackdown targeting the demonstrators protesting against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park continued late May 31, as the heart of Istanbul’s entertainment area turned into a battlefield during the afternoon hours.

The security forces have once again used tear gas and water cannons against protesters that were gathered to denounce the brutal crackdown against demonstrators occupying Gezi Park. Major connections leading to Taksim – Sıraselviler, Tarlabaşı, Harbiye and Beşiktaş – as well as Istanbul’s emblematic Istiklal Avenue were all blocked by the riot police who fired tear gas without making any distinction between protesters and locals. Two choppers were also circling the skies in the area while ambulances continuously bring new patients to the hospitals. Dozens of protestors are reported injured by witnesses.

The protesters, who started their mobilization to raise awareness on the demolition of one of the city’s last remaining green areas, started chanting for the resignation of the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following the police’s relentless tear gas campaign.

Twelve protesters were injured according to Istanbul’s Governor’s Office during the morning raid. However witness accounts put the number much higher, as dozens of demonstrators suffered the effects of the crackdown.