Two women who wanted to unfurl a banner for the May 1 Worker’s Day celebrations were detained in Taksim Square, which is closed to celebrations, the Hurriyet newspaper reported.
The women entered the square despite tightened security measures and heavy presence of police early on May 1. They unfurled a banner in the square but were initially halted by traffic police. The women were taken to the police headquarters.
Meanwhile, police tightened security nearby the square. Guests of hotels around the square were also checked before May 1. The square was closed off with barriers by police while traffic has also been suspended until the end of the celebrations.
Earlier, the country's Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said the May 1 celebrations would not be held in Taksim Square.
