Police in Turkey blasted water cannons and fired rubber bullets at a pride march on Sunday as people celebrated in the city streets under rainbow banners, according to eye-witnesses in Istanbul.
The marchers were out to celebrate as part of the city's annual pride march when police reportedly tried to disperse the marchers near Taksim Square.
You can watch as police use a water cannon and rubber bullets against marchers, below.
Mis Sokak'a polis saldırısı pic.twitter.com/oPqcyCRRl9— Funda Eryiğit (@fundaeryigit) June 28, 2015
Water cannon, tear gas used on Siraselviler, off Taksim Square. #Pride #Istanbul pic.twitter.com/z1ad65PHFy— William Armstrong (@WJ_Armstrong) June 28, 2015
Several Twitter users tweeted photos of the police attacks, saying that the government in Istanbul had banned the pride parade because it falls during Ramadan.
People saying #Pride march banned because it's Ramadan, but last year also took place during Ramadan. #Istanbul— William Armstrong (@WJ_Armstrong) June 28, 2015
Below are several more photos from the police attack in Turkey.
Reports Istanbul #Pride2015 march is being attacked by police with tear gas, water cannon - via @lgbtinewsturkey. pic.twitter.com/LneVSy0OaW— Rori Donaghy (@roridonaghy86) June 28, 2015
#istanbul peaceful and colorful #pride march is attacked with tear gas, water cannon #onuryurusu #LoveWins #turkey pic.twitter.com/xnkdaMX8VI— Murat Çekiç (@muratcekic) June 28, 2015
Police also detained several marchers.
Police block off all paths to main street Istiklal, preventing #Pride2015 march. Tear gas used elsewhere. #Istanbul pic.twitter.com/lJydF3BzuX— William Armstrong (@WJ_Armstrong) June 28, 2015
So some marchers took a different route.
#IstanbulPride. Part of the crowd turns the other way out of Taksim and continues the march. pic.twitter.com/m1wi7jD5aO— Benjamin Harvey (@BenjaminHarvey) June 28, 2015
The banned #Pride in Istanbul continues in Cihangir where it was pushed to from Taksim, after being cancelled pic.twitter.com/P3qu5fHSpP— Bradley Secker (@bradleysecker) June 28, 2015
And news of police attacking LGBT pride marchers has quickly spread around the globe.
Istanbul? Who are these "leaders"! Stop attacking innocent happy people who are celebrating this is madness! This is inhumane!— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) June 28, 2015