May Day clashes in Istanbul

In Istanbul, there were clashes between participants of the May Day march and the police. The clashes began after demonstrators tried to break through police barricades on the way to Taksim Square, ignoring the ban on any rallies in this place. Police used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators. They responded with a hail of stones, bolts and flares. As a result, dozens of wounded on both sides. Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that people "should not even hope" that they will be able to gather in Taksim Square. After all, it was from Taksim Square that mass protests began in Turkey a year ago, the largest in 11 years of Erdogan's rule.

(15 photos in total)

1. Police use tear gas and water cannons in an attempt to disperse May Day demonstrations in Istanbul on May 1, 2014. (Photo: Getty Images)

2. Burning cars in Istanbul, set on fire by protesters during clashes with the police on May 1, 2014. (Photo: Getty Images)

3. Demonstrators use gas masks and helmets to protect themselves from tear gas and water cannons used by police to disperse them in Istanbul on May 1, 2014. (Photo: Getty Images)

4. Members of Turkish trade unions run away from the scene of the use of tear gas and water cannons by police in Istanbul on May 1, 2014. (Photo: Getty Images)

5. Police use water cannons to disperse demonstrators in Istanbul on May 1, 2014. (Photo: Getty Images)

6. A demonstrator throws a Molotov cocktail towards police during clashes in Istanbul on May 1, 2014. (Photo: Getty Images)

7. A demonstrator wearing a gas mask and helmet during clashes with police in Istanbul on May 1, 2014. (Photo: Getty Images)

8. A demonstrator aims a rocket launcher during clashes with police in Istanbul on May 1, 2014. (Photo: Getty Images)

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10. Demonstrators use slingshots to throw stones at police during clashes in Istanbul on May 1, 2014. (Photo: Getty Images)

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12. Demonstrators take cover behind garbage cans while police use tear gas and water cannons to disperse them in Istanbul on May 1, 2014. (Photo: Getty Images)

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