Turkey says 343 people arrested nationwide during overnight protests

By Reuters 22 March 2025, 11:49 am 3 Edit

Protesters clash with Turkish anti-riot police as they use tear gas and water cannons during a demonstration following the arrest of Istanbul's mayor, in Ankara on March 21, 2025. (Adem ALTAN / AFP)

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish authorities have detained 343 people during overnight protests in several cities against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the Interior Ministry says.

Demonstrations took place in more than a dozen cities including Turkey’s biggest city Istanbul and the capital Ankara, the ministry says in a statement.

It says the detentions were made to prevent “disrupting of public order” and warned that authorities would not tolerate “chaos and provocation.”