Tourists in Istanbul should stay away from violent May Day celebrations

Tourists visiting Istanbul should stay away from today’s May Day celebrations in this Turkish city. Fireworks exploded near protesters during a May Day demonstration in Istanbul today May 1, 2014.

May Day rallies are planned around Europe from Athens to Berlin to London.

Just a year ago Istanbul was under attack and locked down during the May Day celebration.

Elsewhere in Turkey’s Istanbul, May Day protests are being conducted peacefully without any police involvement.

In Istanbul the morning is up to a violent start.

One person has been injured in Besiktas, according to the daily Radikal. Meanwhile, police are resorting to using large amounts of tear gas and water cannon in the streets of the Sisli district.

Some residents in the Besiktas district who were severely affected by the intense level of tear gas used by security forces have been evacuated from their homes, Hurriyet reported. Families were seen running with babies in their arms.

Gezi Park in Istanbul is currently protected by around 30 special operations units, the daily Radikal reported. Armored vehicles are also deployed next to the park. Police aren’t allowing journalists to take photos or shoot any video.

Some protesters have let off fireworks and thrown Molotov cocktails at police in the side streets of the Okmeydanı neighborhood in Istanbul. In response, security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets.

Crowds are being pushed back into side streets in Istanbul by police water cannon during May Day demonstrations.

Turkish police have deployed tear gas and water cannon during May Day protests in Istanbul’s Besiktas neighborhood, reports AFP. The city’s authorities have closed off Istanbul’s Taksim Square with police barricades, citing intelligence reports that “illegal terrorist groups” had planned attacks on security forces during the May Day demonstrations.