Thousands of police have been deployed around Taksim Square in Istanbul to prevent workers and people wishing to celebrate May Day in the square. Arrests have already been reported in Beşiktaş and Okmeydanı.

Taksim Square, the traditional venue for May Day rallies, has been declared off limits for May Day, despite applications made by Trade Union federations to hold a rally there.
Workers gathered in Beşiktaş prior to marching towards Taksim. A person by the name of Baran Hamzaçebi was searched and arrested by police on the grounds he had a gas mask and helmet in his bag. CHP MP Süleyman Çelebi asked why the young man had been arrested and he was subsequently freed. Hamzaçebi said the police had confiscated his gas mask. 

Workers also gathered in front of the DISK building in the Şişli district of Istanbul prior to a march due to commence at 12.

DISK President Kani Beko and General Secretary Arzu Çerkesoğlu and KESK Co-president Lami Özgen went to Beşiktaş Square, where they were greeted with slogans of "Long Live May Day".

In Okmeydanı police are reported to have fired plastic bullets at a group gathering in front of the hospital.

Police have been brought in from other provinces to blockade all roads leading to Taksim Square. Armoured vehicles and water cannon have been placed at junctions to prevent marchers reaching Taksim. The march from Beşiktaş and Şişli will commence at noon.