Live from Istanbul - Children, mothers and elderly people are fired upon by police.

This is an update from a fellow student at London Film School. At 9pm on Saturday the 15th June 2013 and following the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's speech in Ankara, the Turkish police began to attack thousands of people who were having dinner at the Gezi Park and Taksim square. 

Children under 4-5 years of age, mothers, and elderly people were amongst those who police fired tear gas and water canons at. According to reports, police are not allowing journalists to report or take pictures at Gezi Park. They are using water canons on businesses such as the Divan Hotel, one of the hotels where protestors were taking refuge in from police brutality. 

People are saying there are thousands of wounded inside the hotel. People formed a human chain in front of the hotel to prevent the police from attacking it. Another report says that people cannot leave the hotel because police are arresting whoever leaves. There are also unconfirmed reports that police have shut down the metro and boats between Asia and Europe to stop people coming and joining the rest. Furthermore another report states that there is a jammer in the area to prevent TV stations' broadcast. There are hundreds of wounded. There are a lot of missing children, or children who are separated from their families. 

Protestors are fighting with police in Sıraselviler, Cihangir, Harbiye, and most likely around Dolmabahçe and Maçka. People call it a total brutality, a real savagery that is going on tonight. 

What can you do? Please ring and email the Turkish embassy in Britain straightaway: +44 20 73 93 02 02 embassy.london@mfa.gov.tr

Also share this as widely as you can via fb/twitter and make sure that those you know within broadcast/media industries get this information. Reports are now coming in to the west stating that the police brutality has stopped. It has not but continues with great force.

Written by Murat Cetinkaya