24.03.2025 12:11
In Izmit, during protests against the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, police teams used a significant amount of tear gas. Despite the order from the Chief of Police to "not use gas," a riot police officer who used tear gas was warned with the words, "Son, who told you to use gas? Are we not saying it, son? Didn't we say you shouldn't use gas?"
The Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested and sent to Silivri Prison as part of a corruption investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and this development ignited protests across the country.
CLASH DURING PROTEST
Teams from the Kocaeli Provincial Police Department intervened in the crowd gathered in front of the CHP Izmit District Organization to protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in the evening hours. The police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
CITIZENS STRUGGLED TO BREATHE
Due to the tear gas used by the police, citizens struggled to breathe in the large area between the Industrial Vocational High School and Fethiye Street.
COMMISSIONER WARNED IN A HARSH TONE
According to a report by Cihat Polat from Kocaeli Newspaper, while the police intervention continued, the police chief harshly warned the commissioner of the riot police who was using tear gas.
NOTABLE DIALOGUE
The dialogue between the police chief and the riot police commissioner was as follows;
Police Chief: "Commissioner… Where is the commissioner… Son, who said to use gas?"
Commissioner: "We used it without orders."
Police Chief: "What do you mean without orders? Don't we say, son! Don't we say you shouldn't use gas?"