Pain in Bingol Increases with Violent Protest

Warning people of a likely provocation, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed Bingol Chief of Police Osman Nuri Ozdemir.

The incident started when Bingol resident Salih Bozagac stood naked in front of the government building. Bozagac was taken into custody, provoking a confrontation. Justice and Development Party (AKP) Bingol deputy Vezir Berdibek called on residents to remain calm, although he himself had been attacked. When police arrived at the scene, they tried to disperse the crowd by firing warning shots repeatedly into the air; however this only caused the protest to escalate. Water bottles were thrown at police vehicles and two people were injured when a police vehicle sped through the crowd.

National News Services / Bingol / TURKEY