Turkish police detain dozens as part of probe into Gezi Park protests

ISTANBUL / ANKARA

DHA Photo

Anti-terror security teams detained several people in raids at their homes in Istanbul and Ankara early today, as part of investigations into the Taksim Gezi Park protests.

The places raided as part of this operation included the Atılım newspaper and the Etkin News Agency in Istanbul, daily Hürriyet reported. After the health checks, the detainees were sent to the police department on Istanbul’s Vatan Street.

Meanwhile, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder wrote on his Twitter account that around 70 people had been detained early this morning, including Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) member Alp Altınörs. Anatolia news agency reported that the outlawed Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) members were also targeted in the raids and some of the detained were members of the organization.

Separately, 193 people were detained in Istanbul in total, and 22 of them were accused of “organizing violent protests and calling on people to attend illegal demonstrations.” These 22 people will be interrogated over the next four days.

Police also raided 26 addresses in Ankara, Doğan News Agency reported. The agency also said there were detention orders regarding the demonstrations held in the capital to support the Gezi Park protests.