Istanbul's central Taksim square has once again been raided by police early Tuesday morning. Police removed the barricades and banners in the area, particularly those covering the Atatürk Statue and the building of Atatürk Cultural Center in the square. Riot police teams are waiting around the Atatürk Statue as protestors have formed a human chain around Gezi Park to prevent potential attacks targeting the park.

In a statement to the press, governor of Istanbul, Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, said that the police mobilization in the area has been aimed at normalizing the square by removing the banners which -he underlined- has damaged Istanbul's and Turkey's image in the eye of the international community. He claimed that police intervened in some marginal groups who tried to provoke the peaceful environment in the area.

Mutlu alleged that action against the peaceful protestors in and around Gezi Park was out of question. He warned against provocations by marginal groups which -he said- organized resistance against police forces. He added that detention operations against provocateurs may continue.

Short-lasting clashes broke out after police attacked the protestors in the square in the morning. Reports on social media, mainly those published by protestors at the square, claim that it was undercover policemen who threw molotov cocktails and stones to the riot police and provoked the silent protestors in the area.They said police treated this men, who -they said- were all wearing same clothes, with attention and sensitivity. According to social media reports, riot police raided the SDP (Socialist Democracy Party) office and detained some people inside the office after the party announced that they had nothing to do with those throwing molotov cocktails to the police carrying shields with the name of the party written on them.

Some five people have been reported wounded in the police attack. Clashes are reported to be continuing in some areas, mainly in Talimhane area.