Kurd & Turks clashed in Istanbul
Groups of supporters and opponents of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, clashed in Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu district Wednesday night, the latest incident stemming from a PKK attack that killed 13 soldiers last week.
The clashes began around midnight and continued until morning. One group of anti-PKK protesters threw stones at the local branch of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP. Police later intervened, spraying pepper gas on many of the protesters.
The windows of some apartments and businesses in the area were broken in the melee.
The violence came one day after a similar incident in the same neighborhood after a group of pro-PKK demonstrators shouted slogans in favor of the banned group. The group was confronted by others from the area, leading to a clash that resulted in a number of businesses and cars being set ablaze. One PKK supporter narrowly escaped a mob attack when he was removed from the area by police.
The clashes began around midnight and continued until morning. One group of anti-PKK protesters threw stones at the local branch of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP. Police later intervened, spraying pepper gas on many of the protesters.
The windows of some apartments and businesses in the area were broken in the melee.
The violence came one day after a similar incident in the same neighborhood after a group of pro-PKK demonstrators shouted slogans in favor of the banned group. The group was confronted by others from the area, leading to a clash that resulted in a number of businesses and cars being set ablaze. One PKK supporter narrowly escaped a mob attack when he was removed from the area by police.