![Istanbul May Day Protests Met With Tear Gas And Water Cannons [PHOTOS]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-21141851%2Cwidth-700%2Cresizemode-4%2Cimgsize-174699%2Fistanbul-may-day-protests-met-with-tear-gas-and-water-cannons-photos.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
DefenseClashes erupted in Istanbul after thousands of police were stationed to block access to Taksim Square in the center of
The barricades were set up to prevent a march organized by trade unions, but protestors began pushing into the square and authorities responded with tear gas and water cannons. Here's the Hurriyet Daily News report.
Istanbul is on a citywide shut down as traffic has been restricted and public transportation to the square has been suspended.
Reuters notes that May 1, a traditional workers' day holiday across Europe, was canceled as a national holiday in Turkey following a 1980 coup but reinstated in 2010 under pressure from trade unions.
REUTERS/Murad Sezer REUTERS/Murad Sezer REUTERS/Murad Sezer 
— LeJournal (@AgenceLeJournal) May 1, 2013
May Day conflict with police in Istanbul. / Pepper gas #Now #Istanbul #Turkey #MayDay #photojournalism twitter.com/AgenceLeJourna…
#MayDay in #Istanbul #Turkey via @saryaderya twitter.com/yesimcf/status…
— Yesim Comert (@yesimcf) May 1, 2013
This is Istanbul on May Day! Journalists are trying to work under heavy pepper gas. via @ahmetakpolat twitter.com/aydinonat/stat…
— N. Emrah Aydinonat (@aydinonat) May 1, 2013