Thousands from the mainly Kurdish and Alewi neighborhood of Gazi in Istanbul have taken their way to Taksim after the police violently attacked the people at Gezi Park early Saturday evening.

The protestors from the neighborhood have joined with thousands of others coming from the neighborhood of Nurtepe. The large mass, some 25 thousand people, is marching to Taksim Square in solidarity with the people there.

Tens of thousands have also taken their way to Taksim from the districts of Sarıgazi, Uzunçayır, Kadıköy and Çekmeceköy.

People in Taksim area have gathered on Istiklal Avenue where they were soon later attacked by police with water cannon and tear gas. People in Silivri, Harbiye, Avcılar, Bahçeşehir, Sarıyer, Mecidiyeköy, Beylikdüzü and Üsküdar also took to the streets, chanting the slogan “shoulder to shoulder against fascism” and calling on PM Erdoğan to resign.

In the meantime, Divan Hotel where protestors are taking shelter has been targeted by another teargas attack. People in the hotel say they are unable to breathe. Police intervention is reported in some places.

Doctors in front of Divan hotel confirm that the water sprayed from water-cannons consists of chemical agents.

The police intervention in Gezi Park has also drawn reactions from many other cities across the country including capital Ankara, İzmir, Mersin, Adana, Çanakkale, Eskişehir, Kayseri and Samsun where people are determined to spend the night out, protesting against excessive use of police force.