Turkish police on Sunday used tear gas and water cannons against people who were about to take part in a Pride march in Istanbul.
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Another video appeared to show the same police vehicle blasting a man waving a rainbow flag, knocking him backward.
Another PinkNews reader Gizem Paksoy said: “I actually have no idea why they started attacking”.
Between 100 and 200 protesters were chased away from Taksim Square as they began gathering in the late afternoon. Police hemmed the demonstrators into a small corner of the square and then fired several jets of water to force them down a side street.
Before the march, police closed off access to Taksim Square, the scene of anti-government protests in 2013 – since which all demonstrations in the area have been banned. The news portal sendika.org reported that the police also used plastic bullets and detained a protestor who was standing in front of a TOMA.
The rally grew to several thousand people as the day wore on.
It is being reported that riot police have violently dispersed Istanbul Pride, and arrested participants.
While homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, unlike many other Muslim countries, homophobia remains widespread.
But this year the parade coincides with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan which could cause upset amongst conservative Muslims.
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Turkish police use a water canon to disperse participants of an LGBT Pride event in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, June 28, 2015.
