Turkish security forces, protesters clash in Istanbul

Thousands of protesters gathered in Kadikoy District on Thursday to condemn the death of 22-year-old Ahmet Atakan.

Turkish police forces used water cannon and live rounds to disperse the crowd, leaving a number of protesters injured. About 20 people were also arrested.

Atakan was killed after reportedly being hit in the head with a tear gas canister in the southern city of Antakya in Hatay Province.

Protests were also held in the capital, Ankara, the western city of Izmir, and the southern cities of Mersin and Antakya.

Since the death of Atakan on September 9, similar protests have been held across the country.

In June, a peaceful sit-in aimed at saving Istanbul’s central Gezi Park from being razed prompted a violent police response. Several people were killed and thousands injured after the protests spiraled into nationwide demos against the government.