Turkish authorities arrested more than 500 people and used tear gas and water cannons to disperse May Day demonstrators in Istanbul, according to reports from the CHD lawyers' group.
The arrests occurred as thousands attempted to march to Taksim Square, a historic site for protests that has been off-limits to gatherings since 2013. Police sealed off the square overnight and deployed heavy security throughout the city.
In the Mecidiyekoy district, police surrounded a large crowd and used water cannons and tear gas after protesters breached a barricade. Among those detained was Erkan Bas, leader of the Turkish Workers' Party, who called the ban on accessing Taksim Square "illegal."
Meanwhile, permitted rallies took place in Kadikoy, Kartal, Izmir's Gundogdu Square, and Diyarbakir's Istasyon Square. Trade unions held peaceful marches in cities from Bursa to Corum.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a message on X, congratulating workers on Labor and Solidarity Day and sending greetings to all employees across the nation.
Turkey has a history of heavy policing on May 1, as labor unions and workers' groups commemorate International Labour Day with demonstrations that often test the government's tolerance for dissent.