Turkey uses tear gas to break up gay pride gathering

cp-yahoopartner:

ISTANBUL – Police in Istanbul have used tear gas and have detained activists who gathered to mark gay pride week after authorities banned their rally in the city. At least 19 activists have been detained.

Police on Sunday rounded up several activists who assembled on a main pedestrian street to issue a statement in honour of gay rights and to denounce the ban. Police later fired tear gas and rubber pellets to disperse activists gathering in side streets. Two European Parliament legislators were also briefly detained.

Istanbul’s governor banned both last week’s Trans Pride March and Sunday’s broader LGBT pride parade, citing security concerns.

Last week, police also used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up demonstrators who gathered for the transgender parade in defiance of the ban.

More articles on what happened here and here.

micdotcom:

Another terrorist attack hits Turkey, killing 5, wounding dozens

A suicide bombing in Istanbul on Saturday killed at least five people, including the attacker, and wounded at least 36 others. “The blast sent panicked shoppers scurrying into side alleys off Istiklal Street, a long pedestrian avenue lined with international stores and foreign consulates, a few hundred meters from where police buses are often stationed,” Reuters wrote. The bombing is the fourth attack to hit Turkey in 2016 thus far. Authorities told Reuters one of two possible groups may be responsible.

[Here is another article]