Police forces have heavily blockaded the Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue in central Istanbul although trade union confederations DİSK and KESK and professional organisations TMMOB and TTB have decided to celebrate the May Day in Bakırköy’s Halk Pazarı Square this year.

All the roads leading to Taksim and İstiklal have been closed down with police barricades as of early morning hours. A number of armored police vehicles and riot control vehicles have been deployed in these areas, including police vehicles used for the transport of detainees.

15 thousand police units, 3 helicopters and 120 riot control vehicles will be “on duty” in Istanbul today and all the roads leading to Taksim from Okmeydanı, Şişli, Mecidiyeköy, Kasımpaşa, Nişantaşı, Beşiktaş, Teşvikiye, Saraçhane and Beyazıt remain under police control since 06:00 this morning. Traffic on this line is not permitted.

Two routes have been chosen for the march for this year's May Day rally in Bakırköy’s Halk Pazarı Square. People will meet in Marmara Forum and E-5 highway’s İncirli side and march to the rally grounds.

The rally will take off with confederations presidents giving speeches at 13.00. HDP Co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ will also be attending the rally.

The call for “A united and massive May 1” by the 4 organisations – DİSK, KESK, TMMOB and TTB- was also supported by HDP and HDK constituent parties. Partizan, EMEP, Halkevi, CHP and Birleşik Haziran Hareketi (United June Movement) also issued calls for Bakırköy.