Two of Turkey’s biggest cities descended into chaos on Tuesday after the death of a young boy who was hit on the head during protests last year. Mourners and demonstrators gathered in Istanbul and Ankara, the country’s two biggest cities, leading to violent clashes with police, who fired water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Berkin Elvan became an unwitting victim of the protests in June last year when he was struck by a tear gas canister. The then-14-year-old, who became embroiled in the street battles having only left the house to buy some bread, slipped into a coma shortly after the incident. On Tuesday it was announced that he had died, with his coffin carried through the street draped in red carnations.
Having become an icon of the anti-government protests, Elvan’s death sparked thousands to take to the streets. According to Reuters, the demonstrators in Ankara chanted: “Government of Erdogan, government of corruption, resign resign”. Similar scenes were witnessed in the capital, where a social media campaign encouraged the protesters to leave their homes and rally against the beleaguered government.
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Getty ImagesA protester holds a placard displaying a portrait, reading ‘We want justice for Berkin Elvan’ after the announcement of the death of the teenager on March 11, 2014, in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesA protestor holds a placard displaying a portrait of Berkin Elvan after the announcement of the death of the teenager on March 11, 2014, in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesRiot police uses water cannons on March 11, 2014 in Ankara, to disperse people protesting against the death of Berkin Elvan. -
Getty ImagesA woman cries during a rally following the announcement of Berkin Elvan’s death on March 11, 2014, in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesA protester holds a picture of Berkin Elvan during clashes with riot police in Kadikoy, on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, on March 11, 2014. -
Getty ImagesPeople run away as anti-riot olice fires water cannon to disperse thousands of people demonstrating following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesPeople run away as anti-riot olice fires water cannon to disperse thousands of people demonstrating following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesPeople protect themselves behind a trash can as anti-riot olice fires water cannon to disperse thousands of people demonstrating following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesRiot policemen fire water cannon to disperse thousands of people demonstrating following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesRiot policemen fire tear gas to disperse thousands of people demonstrating following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesPeople run away as riot policemen fire tear gas to disperse thousands of people demonstrating following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesA man runs away as riot policemen fire water cannon to disperse thousands of people demonstrating following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesPeople gather following the announcement of Berkin Elvan’s death on March 11, 2014, in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesRelatives of Berkin Elvan cry as his coffin of is carried on March 11, 2014, in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesThousands of people demonstrate following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year on March 11, 2014 near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesThe coffin of Berkin Elvan is carried on March 11, 2014, in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesThousands of people demonstrate near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year on March 11, 2014 in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesPeople run away as anti-riot police fires tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of people demonstrating following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesThousands of people demonstrate near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year on March 11, 2014 in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesPolice fires water cannon to disperse thousands of people demonstrating near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesPeople hold portraits of Berkin Elvan during a sit-in demonstration following the announcement of his death by his familly on March 11, 2014 in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesPeople hold portraits of Berkin Elvan during a sit-in demonstration following the announcement of his death by his family on March 11, 2014 in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesA loaf of bread is set on a picture showing Berkin Elvan during a sit-in demonstration following the announcement of his death by his familly on March 11, 2014 in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesThe mother (C) of 15-year-old Berkin Elvan cries after her son died at Okmeydani Hospital in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. -
Getty ImagesA Turkish leftist protestor is detained by Turkish police on January 13, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesAn anti-goverment protestor shows a poster of Berkin Elvan, a teenager who was shot in his head with teargas capsule, to a policemen during a demonstration at Taksim square on July 31, 2013 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesA man left a piece of bread and a placard reading: ‘I’ve been shot while going to buy bread. Berkin’s killer is the government’ while people wait for the coffin of Berkin Elvan outside a morgue on March 11, 2014, in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesPolice fires water cannon to disperse thousands of people demonstrating near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesRiot policemen fire tear gas to disperse thousands of people demonstrating following the death of Berkin Elvan, a teenage boy wounded in mass anti-government demonstrations last year, on March 11, 2014 near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara. -
Getty ImagesA Turkish protester kicks back a teargas canister fired by riot policemen during clashes outside Okmeydani Hospital in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. -
Getty ImagesRiot police use water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters near the Middle East Technical University (ODTU) in Ankara on March 11, 2014. Police fired tear gas and water cannon at around 1,000 students who gathered outside the Middle East Technical University, an opposition stronghold, and blocked a major highway. -
Getty ImagesTurkish protesters attack a riot police vehicle during clashes outside Okmeydani Hospital in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. -
Getty ImagesA Turkish protester holds a police baton and shield during clashes between riot police and demonstrators outside Okmeydani Hospital in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. -
Getty ImagesA Turkish protester pushes a garbage container during clashes with riot policemen outside Okmeydani Hospital in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. -
Getty ImagesA Turkish protester makes the victory sign behind a police shield during clashes between riot police and demonstrators outside Okmeydani Hospital in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. -
Getty ImagesTurkish protesters unload bags of police gear from a riot police bus during clashes outside Okmeydani Hospital in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. -
Getty ImagesThe coffin of Berkin Elvan is carried on March 11, 2014, in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesTurkish protesters attack a riot police vehicle during clashes outside Okmeydani Hospital in Istanbul on March 11, 2014. -
Getty ImagesThe mother of Berkin Elvan (C) cries as his coffin of is carried on March 11, 2014, in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesThe coffin of Berkin Elvan is carried on March 11, 2014, in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesThe coffin of Berkin Elvan is carried on March 11, 2014, in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesThe coffin of Berkin Elvan is carried on March 11, 2014, in Istanbul. -
Turkish riot police use water cannon to disperse protestors during an anti government demonstration after Berkin Elvan, aged 15, died after 296 days in a coma, in Ankara, Turkey, 11 March 2014.
For the second evening, the two biggest cities in Turkey have descended into chaos after police fired tear gas and water cannon following the funeral of 15-year-old Berkin Elvan. On Wednesdays afternoon, thousands of mourners took to the streets of Istanbul, chanting anti-government slogans as the young boy’s coffin was carried slowly through the capital.
Elvan was injured during anti-Government protests last summer when the then-14-year-old was hit on the head with a gas canister. He had only left his house to buy some bread. He slipped into a coma shortly after the incident, and it was announced on Tuesday that he had succumbed to his injuries. Elvan’s mother has maintained that Turkey’s beleaguered Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was to blame for her son’s death, a sentiment echoed among the tens of thousands that carried Elvan to his burial.
According to the BBC, as the coffin was lowered into the ground, Elvan’s mother shouted “What am I to do now? They’ve taken my everything.” Following the burial, violent clashes broke out when protesters tried to move to Gezi Park, the scene of last year’s standoff.
This unconfirmed video was posted on Facebook by @CanEsatYalkin, purportedly showing a police advance on protesters with water cannon immediately after the burial. According to another witness, a 31-year-old Istanbul native (who spoke to HuffPost on condition of anonymity), violence broke out in Osmanbey close to both the burial site and Gezi Park.
“When they saw the crowd they attacked without any provocation or warnings,” she said. “They attacked brutally.” The witness speculated that the police only attacked after live streaming of the burial had been completed.
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Getty ImagesProtestors clean their eyes after police fired flee tear gas during clashes with riot police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesProtestors flee tear gas during clashes with riot police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters in Ankara and Istanbul on Wednesday as tens of thousands took to the streets to mourn a teenage boy who died from injuries suffered in last year’s anti-government protests. -
Getty ImagesProtestors flee tear gas during clashes with riot police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesProtestors flee tear gas during clashes with riot police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesA protestor throws a stone onto a police van during clashes with riot police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesA riot policemen shoots at a gas canister thrown back by protestors during clashes between riot-police and prostestors after the funeral of Berkin Elvan, the 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during last year’s anti-government protests, in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. -
Getty ImagesProtestors gesture as they stand behind a barricade during clashes with riot police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesProtestors wearing gas masks walk amid smoke during clashes with riot police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesA woman tries to protect her baby from tear gas during clashes between riot-police and prostestors after the funeral of Berkin Elvan, the 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during last year’s anti-government protests, in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. -
Getty ImagesA boy protects a girl as riot police attacks protestors during clashes between riot-police and prostestors after the funeral of Berkin Elvan, the 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during last year’s anti-government protests, in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. -
Getty ImagesA protestor runs past a police van during clashes with riot police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters in Ankara and Istanbul on Wednesday as tens of thousands took to the streets to mourn a teenage boy who died from injuries suffered in last year’s anti-government protests. -
Getty ImagesPolice stand in line during clashes with demonstrators after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesPeople run away from tear gas and water cannon during clashes between riot-police and prostestors after the funeral of Berkin Elvan, the 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during last year’s anti-government protests, in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. -
Getty ImagesPeople run away from tear gas and water cannon during clashes between riot-police and prostestors after the funeral of Berkin Elvan, the 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during last year’s anti-government protests, in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. -
Getty ImagesPeople run away from tear gas and water cannon during clashes between riot-police and prostestors after the funeral of Berkin Elvan, the 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during last year’s anti-government protests, in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. -
Getty ImagesPolice use water cannon to disperse protestors during Berkin Elvan`s funeral on March 12, 2014 in istanbul. -
Getty ImagesA protestors wearing a gas mask takes cover with his shield during clashes with riot police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesA protester is affected by tear gas during clashes with police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in istanbul. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters in Ankara and Istanbul on Wednesday as tens of thousands took to the streets to mourn a teenage boy who died from injuries suffered in last year’s anti-government protests. -
Getty ImagesPeople run from tear gas during the funeral of Berkin Elvan, the 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during last year’s anti-government protests, in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. -
Getty ImagesPolice use water cannon to disperse protestors during Berkin Elvan`s funeral on March 12, 2014 in istanbul. -
Getty ImagesPolice use water cannon to disperse protestors during Berkin Elvan`s funeral on March 12, 2014 in istanbul. -
Getty ImagesRiot police use tear gas to disperse protestors during Berkin Elvan`s funeral on March 12, 2014 in istanbul. -
Getty ImagesThousands of people attend the funeral of Berkin Elvan, the 15-year-old boy who died from injuries suffered during last year’s anti-government protests, in Istanbul on March 12, 2014. -
Getty ImagesProtestors take cover behind a barricade during clashes with riot police after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesRiot police uses tear gas to disperse protestors during clashes after the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesRiot police uses water cannons against protesters during clashes at the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesProtestors use fire works to police during clashes with riot police at the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesA policeman fires tear gas to protesters during clashes with riot police at the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul. -
Getty ImagesA policeman fires rubber bullets to protesters during clashes with riot police at the funeral of Berkin Elvan on March 12, 2014 in Istanbul.
