Police to break the bank for new generation of TOMAs

ANKARA / Hürriyet

In this photo, a TOMA fires pressurized water at a group of protesters on İstiklal Avenue, Istanbul's largest pedestrianized street. REUTERS Photo

The Turkish Police Department is set to buy 25 new water cannon trucks, known as TOMAs by the public, in an expensive deal for a new generation of the anti-riot police vehicles that have become a mundane part of everyday life for protesters.

Each new TOMA will cost $245,000, with the whole acquisition rounding off to over $6 million.

Despite being modestly named TOMA-2, the new batch of water cannons will display state-of-the-art technology, weighing more than 15 tons, as their armor will be considerably thicker.

They will be subject to ballistic and military tests during production and will even provide protection against long-range rifles.

Their chassis will be constructed specially for the vehicles included in the project.

Together with tear gas canisters and rubber bullets, the water cannons have become one of the most notorious tools used by the Turkish police for "ensuring public order."