- Title: Police clash with protesters rallying over Istanbul mayor's detention
- Date: 21st March 2025
- Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (MARCH 21, 2025) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) PROTESTERS THROWING FLARE AT POLICE FORMATION FLARE LANDING IN FRONT OF POLICE IN FORMATION WITH SHIELDS, OFFICERS KICKING FLARE AWAY, SMOKE VARIOUS OF POLICE SHOOTING NON-LETHAL PROJECTILE LAUNCHERS AT PROTESTERS PROTESTERS THROWING A FLARE AT POLICE FORMATION FIRECRACKER EXPLODING, GROUP OF PROTESTERS APPROACHING
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Istanbul Turkey clashes detention mayor police protest
- Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Europe,Middle East,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001078021032025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART VIDEO QUALITY AS INCOMING. PLEASE SEE EARLIER EDIT 0767-TURKEY-OPPOSITION/DETENTION-MAYOR-NIGHT FOR MORE FOOTAGE
Protesters in Istanbul clashed with police on Friday night (March 21) over the detention of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, which the opposition party has said is undemocratic.
A mass of protesters pushed towards a heavy line of police with pepper spray, flares flew through the crowds and stones were thrown at the police who fired non-lethal projectiles.
Thousands of people have protested over the previous two days in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities, including at university campuses, leading to some clashes. In some cities like Izmir police used water cannon to disperse the demonstrators and closed down streets.
A Turkish court is expected to rule over the weekend to formally arrest Imamoglu , Erdogan's main political rival who leads in some opinion polls.
Imamoglu, 54, was detained on Wednesday (March 19) facing charges including graft and aiding a terrorist group. His Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition, condemned the move as politically motivated and urged supporters to demonstrate lawfully.
(Production: Mehmet Emin Caliskan, Mehmet Emin Caliskan, Ivan Romero) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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