Turkish police clashed with Labor Day protesters in Istanbul, using tear gas and force to regain control after demonstrators tried to march toward Taksim Square. At least 370 people were arrested.
On 1 May 2026, international news agencies reported that Turkish riot police deployed tear gas to disperse Labor Day demonstrations in Istanbul, arresting at least 370 protesters. The large-scale protests occurred nationwide, with the main tension centered around Taksim Square—a historically significant protest site in Turkey—which police had surrounded since midnight following announcements by several groups planning to march into the area.
The Turkish Bar Association stated that police fired tear gas from riot control vehicles into the protesters. Opposition media reported that the demonstration was held under the slogan "Bread. Peace. Freedom," with demonstrators demanding relief from the high cost of living, labor rights, and political freedoms amid Turkey's soaring inflation.
Meanwhile, in Ankara, about 100 coal miners who had just ended a nine-day hunger strike to demand unpaid wages joined the Labor Day march. They were closely monitored by a large police presence.
Labor Day in Turkey is typically marked by strict security measures, especially in Istanbul, where Taksim Square has been the center of major anti-government protests in the past. Recently, Turkish authorities issued arrest and search warrants for 62 suspects, including journalists, union leaders, and opposition figures, accusing them of potentially inciting unrest during this year’s Labor Day demonstrations.