Many detained in police attack on demo against usurpation of municipality in Van

Following the appointment of a trustee to the Van Metropolitan Municipality, protests started in the city. DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, MPs, co-mayors and many people gathered at the central Beşyol Square to stage a protest march. The police encircled the crowd and prevented the march, staging a brutal crackdown on the demonstrators.  

While protests started in almost all streets of the city, clashes started following the attacks by the police. Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Doğan Hatun and Ecevit Ceylancı, Co-Mayor of Özalp District Municipality, are among those taken into custody during the blockade.

Neslihan Şedal, Co-Mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality, was also injured in the police attack and was not allowed to be taken to hospital.

Tensions remain high in the city.