Police use pepper spray to disperse demonstrators, as people attempt to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square to celebrate May Day, in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 1, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Turkish police on Friday (May 1, 2026) fired tear gas and arrested hundreds of people holding May Day demonstrations in Istanbul, as thousands rallied nationwide.
According to the CHD Lawyers’ Association, at least 370 people were arrested in Istanbul, where police fired tear gas from riot-control vehicles into the crowd, AFP journalists observed.
Published – May 01, 2026 10:11 pm IST