Thousands gathered in Taksim Saturday afternoon after Taksim Solidarity platform called on people to gather at Gezi Park to serve the notice of the Istanbul 1st Regional Court's decision to cancel the Taksim pedestrianization project.

The demo was organized also to protest the violence Gezi protestors were subject to and to remember those killed in protests across the country.

Police, having already blockaded the square before the mass demonstration at 7 p.m., attacked demonstrators on İstiklal Avenue leading to the Taksim Square. Metro access to the square was also interrupted for long hours.

Early Saturday afternoon, Governor of Istanbul, Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, said that meeting at Taksim Square was not authorized, pointing out that he could not act unlawfully by allowing a demonstration that was not permitted in advance.

Police sprayed chemical water from watercannons, also using intense tear gas against peaceful protestors. The police attack, in which rubber bullets were also used, was supported by pro-government groups who brutally attacked protestors using machetes, as well as by plainclothes policemen using sticks.

Many were wounded in the attack and more than 50 people are reported detained.

Police also attacked press members covering the clashes, also targeting those who showed their press card.

The brutal police intervention around Taksim Square is reported to be continuing in some areas.

The videos shot at the scenes of today's clashes show that riot police hid the ID numbers on their helmets. The same police trick is witnessed very often since four protestors were killed during Gezi Park protests in June. No police officer has been brought to trial so far, as is also witnessed very often in cases of police violence against people.

Thousands in capital Ankara, İzmir, Eskişehir and Bursa also took to the streets in the evening to protests the brutal police violence against Gezi protestors in Istanbul. Demonstrators are protesting the government and the police, chanting the slogans “Everyhere Taksim, everywhere resistance”, “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism”. They are calling on the government to resign, and sending messages of solidarity to Istanbul.

People at the Güven Park at Ankara's central Kızılay Square called on all citizens of the capital to gather at the square tomorrow afternoon.