Those wanting to celebrate May 1st Labor Day in Taksim Square were met with police intervention. 37 members of the People’s Liberation Party in Beşiktaş and approximately 20 people in Mecidiyeköy were detained.
80 detentions
The Contemporary Lawyers' Association (ÇHD) Istanbul Branch announced that as of 10:50 AM, the total number of detentions in Istanbul had reached approximately 80 people.
Police intervened with tear gas against members of the Workers' Party of Turkey and the Crimson Party (Kızıl Parti) who started marching toward the police barricade in Mecidiyeköy.
Started since the night before
In accordance with the ban decision taken by the Istanbul Governor's Office for May 1st, Taksim Square was surrounded. While all critical transportation networks, especially the M2 metro line, were disabled, thousands of police barriers were placed on the city's main arteries.
Some roads were closed to traffic within the scope of the May 1st circular published by the Istanbul Governor's Office. Vehicle and pedestrian passage is not permitted on roads leading to Taksim Square in particular, as well as on some roads in Beyoğlu, Şişli, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, and Kartal. Police teams are directing citizens who want to use Taksim Square to alternative routes.
Services will not be operated at Taksim, Şişhane, and Osmanbey metro stops of the M2 Yenikapı-Seyrantepe-Hacıosman metro line (including all entry and exit points).
While only the Square exit of the Mecidiyeköy Metro Station was kept open, the Kabataş-Taksim Square Funicular line services and the Nostalgic tram services on Istiklal Avenue were stopped.
Services will not be organized at the Funicular line between Tünel Square and Karaköy, and at the Taksim, Tarlabaşı, Ömer Hayyam, and Tepebaşı IETT bus stops (on both sides, including the directions toward Şişli and Fatih).
Services were also stopped on the T3 Kadıköy-Moda Tram Line.
The Istanbul Governor's Office had reported that DİSK, KESK, TMMOB, and TTB would celebrate at Kadıköy Rıhtım Square between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and TKP would celebrate at Kartal Square between 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM on May 1st.
Updating
