One Dead as Police Disperse Istanbul May Day Protesters

Anti-riot police fired tear gas and usedwater cannons as clashes broke out on Sunday with dozens of protesters.

One man has been killed as protesters in Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul, tried to reach Taksim Square.

Turkish police fired tear gas and usedwater cannons as clashes broke out on Sunday with dozens of protesters, several hundred of whom were trying to get to Istanbul's main square where celebrations have been banned on May Day.

The security measures come after a series of attacks blamed on both the Islamic State group and militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party.

According to local press several people were being put inside a police bus, authorities have agreed with some unions to mark the day in a designated area in Bakirkoy district nearby the airport.

May Day marks a bloody violence on May 1, 1977, during which unknown gunmen opened fire on a peaceful crowd, killing dozens of people in Taksim square.

The county’s parliament passed a controversial security law last year, expanding police powers to crackdown on protests. Anti-riot police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse May Day protesters in Istanbul last year.