Seven detained after attack on Istanbul municipal teams over attempt to demolish illegal structures

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The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) teams on July 7 attempted to demolish illegal structures located on Gürpınar Coastline in Beylikdüzü and Büyükçekmece districts. However, the teams were attacked by a group of 15 people. The mob got on the demolition excavators and threatened the İBB teams with gas bombs, knives and guns.

The mob insulted the İBB teams, fired gun into the air, and led to the injury of a police officer by unleashing a pitbull dog on him, according to reporting by the daily Birgün. An İBB staff has been injured in a knife attack, while another İBB staff was hit by a gas canister on his chest. The two İBB staff and the police officer in question were dispatched to a hospital.

Despite these attacks, the illegal structures were demolished. Seven people from the mob have been detained.

İBB Deputy General Secretary Murat Yazıcı informed people of the attack on his social media account. “We have demolished another unlicensed structure that was invading the public sphere and was home to illegal structures at Beylikdüzü Gürpınar Coastline. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured municipal police (zabıta) and police and thank everyone who have put effort,” he tweeted. 

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