Early this morning, Turkish riot police stormed Taksim Square, the center of recent anti-government protests in Istanbul, firing tear gas and rubber bullets at firework-hurling demonstrators, pushing many of the protesters who had occupied the square for more than a week into a nearby park. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today he had "no more tolerance" for the mass anti-government demonstrations that have engulfed the country and killed three protesters and one police officer.
Riot Police Retake Istanbul's Taksim Square
Hints:
View this page full screen.
Skip to the next and previous photo by typing j/k or ←/→.
-
![]()
Read moreA protester tries to remain standing as police use a water cannon during clashes at Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 11, 2013. Hundreds of police in riot gear forced their way through barricades in the square early Tuesday, pushing many of the protesters who had occupied the square for more than a week into a nearby park. #
AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis -
-
![]()
Read moreRiot police officers gather on June 10, 2013. Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to meet on Wednesday with leaders of the movement whose peaceful protests in Istanbul spiraled into a wave of anti-government demonstrations across Turkey. #
Reuters/Dado Ruvic -
![]()
Read moreProtesters run from a police water cannon during clashes in Istanbul's Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at hundreds of protesters armed with rocks and fireworks on Tuesday as they tried to take back control of a central Istanbul square at the heart of fierce anti-government demonstrations. #
Reuters/Osman Orsal -
![]()
Read moreRiot police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters in Taksim square, the epicenter of nearly two weeks of anti-government demos, on June 11, 2013. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreRiot police clash with a crowd during a demonstration near Taksim Square on June 11, 2013. #
Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreA police operation uses a water cannon against protesters at Taksim Square in Istanbul, on June 11, 2013. #
AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis -
![]()
Read moreA protester throws a Molotov cocktail during clashes with riot police in Istanbul's Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreA protester takes cover after throwing a Molotov cocktail at a water cannon in Taksim square, on June 11, 2013. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreRiot policemen take cover behind their shields amid tear gas smoke during clashes in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis -
![]()
Read moreRiot police use water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd during a demonstration near Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreA protester catches fire after he tried to throw a petrol bomb at riot police in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Reuters/Murad Sezer -
![]()
Read moreA protester wearing a gas mask holds a box of fireworks during clashes against riot police in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreA protester falls after being hit by a water cannon, as others take cover behind a makeshift shelter, during clashes in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Reuters/Yannis Behrakis -
-
![]()
Read moreProtesters take cover behind a barricade as fireworks go off nearby in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreA protester throws a petrol bomb at riot police in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Reuters/Murad Sezer -
![]()
Read moreTurkish riot police enter Istanbul's Taksim Square on June 11, 2013, on a 12th day of unrest. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreA protester wearing a gas mask, throws a tear gas canister back toward riot police in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreThe Greek Orthodox Church of Hagia Triada, framed by a burning barricade during clashes in Istanbul's Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Reuters/Yannis Behrakis -
![]()
Read moreA protester uses an improvised catapult to throw stones at riot police inTaksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Reuters/Murad Sezer -
-
![]()
Read morePolice take cover behind shields during an operation in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis -
![]()
Read moreA demonstrator throws a molotov cocktail near Taksim Square, early on June 11, 2013 as demonstrators and riot police clashed. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreA protester launches fireworks during clashes against riot police in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreTurkish riot police fire tear gas at demonstrators in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreA demonstrator winds up to throw a molotov cocktail in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreA petrol bomb explodes in front of riot policemen in Taksim Square in Istanbul, on June 11, 2013. #
AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis -
-
![]()
Read moreTurkish riot policemen are hit by petrol bombs during a protest in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Reuters/Cevahir Bugu -
![]()
Read moreDemonstrators wearing gas masks take cover during clashes between riot police and demonstrators in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreProtesters carry another affected by tear gas during clashes in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis -
-
![]()
Read moreA protester helps another to climb in Gezi Park during clashes on June 11, 2013. #
AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis -
![]()
Read moreA crowd control vehicle catches fire during a protest in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Reuters/Murad Sezer -
![]()
Read moreA demonstrator's clothes catch fire during clashes with riot police in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Oren Ziv/AFP/Getty Images -
-
![]()
Read moreRiot police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters in Istanbul's Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreA demonstrator aims a slingshot toward police in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images -
![]()
Read moreA Turkish riot policeman pushes a photographer in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. Turkish riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at hundreds of protesters armed with rocks and fireworks on Tuesday as they tried to take back control of a central Istanbul square at the heart of fierce anti-government demonstrations. #
Reuters/Murad Sezer -
-
![]()
Read moreProtesters react after an explosion on a barricade during clashes in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Reuters/Yannis Behrakis -
![]()
Read moreA police officer fires rubber bullets at protesters who takes cover behind a metal barrier, with graffiti that reads "GTA V Istanbul City", during clashes in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis -
![]()
Read moreA protester places himself under the wheel of a police crowd control vehicle as others try to pull out him during a police operation to evacuate Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis -
-
![]()
Read moreA protester throws a petrol bomb towards riot policemen in Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis -
![]()
Read moreA bulldozer removes a barricade during a police operation to evacuate Taksim Square on June 11, 2013. #
AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis -
![]()
Read moreA protester wipes his eyes as he passes a burning vehicle during a protest in Istanbul's Taksim Square, on June 11, 2013. #
Reuters/Murad Sezer -
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.