Turkish riot police use pepper spray against protesters as they attempted to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square to celebrate May Day, in Besiktas neighbourhood of Istanbul, Turkey, May 1, 2016. REUTERS/Yagiz Karahan
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannon and detained more than 200 people after scuffles broke out at May Day celebrations in Istanbul and some anti-government protesters tried to breach a ban on access to the main Taksim square.
Security was tight across Turkey's biggest city, which was hit twice this year by attacks blamed on Islamic State. Around 24,500 members of the security forces were deployed for the May Day celebrations, according to the Istanbul governor's office. Police scanned the streets from helicopters overhead.
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