ISTANBUL - Turkish police came into the spotlight once again Thursday for the disproportional use of force against residents of a neighborhood on the outskirts of the country’s largest city, Istanbul, attempting to stop the demolition of unlicensed buildings.
Police clashed with hundreds of rioting residents trying to prevent municipality workers from tearing down unlicensed buildings in the Altinsehir neighborhood of the Kucukcekmece district, west of Istanbul.
Riot police used tear gas and water cannons to drive back the angry residents who threw stones at police and blocked the streets with burning tires.
Television footage of the clash showed a police officer punching and kicking an aged man attempting to get clear of the conflict, after firing water cannons and tear gas at him.
Dozens of primary and middle school students were also affected by tear gas after police accidentally fired a canister into a school playground during the clash.
About 10 children, aged between seven and 15, were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment by ambulances that rushed to the scene after the incident, broadcaster NTV reported.
A four-month-old baby was also hospitalized suffering from the effects of tear gas after another canister was fired through the window of a third floor apartment.
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