Police, students clash in Ankara

A group of about 500 students from various universities attempting to march to the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) headquarters to protest were stopped by high-pressure water and tear gas from the police.

The students, holding banners that read “We are rising up,” were stopped by riot police as they started walking from the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) campus to the AK Party building, located four kilometers away. The police ordered the students to stop and hosed them down to disperse the crowd. The students responded by throwing stones at the police, who then used tear gas on the students.

The protestors also held banners that demanded equal opportunities in general education, scientific education and education in one’s mother tongue.

Meanwhile, CHP İstanbul deputy Çetin Soysal, who drove to the campus yesterday to show his support for the students, was also targeted by the students. The angry group protested against Soysal, chanting “Fascist CHP get out of ODTÜ” and “We don’t want the CHP.” They threw stones and lemons at Soysal, who failed to convince the students to calm down.

The riot police had to put up a barricade in front of the main campus entrance to stop the students. Fire brigades also helped the police in repelling the students when police panzers ran out of water.