Journalists holed up in hotel in Istanbul

Journalist Irina Galushko is reporting that armed men are forbidding journalists from leaving their hotel.

Turkey: Police target every protest refuge, even Hilton Hotel!

Police entered the Hilton hotel in Istanbul to tackle the protesters who have used the facility as a safe-haven, Saturday. Reportedly, the Hilton allowed protesters to seek refuge in its plush lobby and bar, but as tensions continue to rise in the city as the government seeks to regain full control, police entered to clear the hotel.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan set Sunday as the deadline for protesters to desist and leave the occupied areas of central Istanbul, in particular Taksim Square and Taksim Gezi Park. Police entered with force on Saturday evening, taking protesters off-guard and claiming the square -- a move that has angered the protest movement and created an intense atmosphere throughout the city, where running battles are continuing as protesters attempt to maintain their presence on the streets.

Protesters continue to call for the resignation of Erdogan in the wake of a series of the uprising. Citing the "creeping Islamification" of Turkish secular society as their base, many have mobilized against the Prime Minister arguing that his recent legislation is moving Turkey away from its secular roots established by Ataturk and towards the Islamic ideologies, like the Muslim Brotherhood. Protesters are also angered by the foreign policy of Turkey, particularly in regards to Syria, with many arguing that the country's security has been jeopardised by the developing conflict.

Signs that chemicals are being used in tear gas

The Russian journalist, Irina Galushko (now holed up in her hotel), is reporting that every exposed bit of skin is irritated and itching

Via Facebook ---

Reports of white gas masks turning red; indiscriminate use of tear gas and water canons; additives in the water canons making people ill; attacks on local businesses that offer assistance; canisters with 'Agent Orange' written on them....this is happening NOW, on our planet, to our brethren, in our time!

The only weapons we truly have are knowledge, truth and justice - under these we must stand in solidarity xx Unite, not fight ♥

---A.B

LIVE FROM ISTANBUL:

Today, following Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's extremely sectarian, separatist, and fictious speech in Ankara, around 9 PM, the Turkish police began to attack thousands of people who were at the Gezi Park and Taksim square, having dinner. There are kids under 4-5 years old, mothers, and old people among those who were under gas and pressurised water attack. According to reports, police doesn't allow journalists to report or to take pictures from Gezi Park. They are also attacking with pressurised water business such as famous Divan Hotel that opened its doors to protestors running away from brutality. People are saying there are thousands of wounded inside of the hotel. People formed a human chain in front of the hotel to prevent police to attack. Another report says that people cannot leave the hotel because police is arresting whoever leaves. There are also unconfirmed reports that police shut down the metro and boats between Asia and Europe to stop people coming and joining the rest. Another report says that there is a jammer in the area to prevent TV stations' broadcast. There are hundreds of wounded. There are a lot of missing kids, or kids who are separated from their families. Protestors are fighting with police in Sıraselviler, Cihangir, Harbiye, and most likely around Dolmabahçe and Maçka. People call it a total brutality, a real savagery that is going on tonight. What we are seeing an ugly war where only one side have weapons.

.....

THE BELOW WAS PASSED ON BY A MEMBER FROM THEIR FRIEND IN TURKEY, WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST ERDOGAN, EXPLAINING THE CHAOTIC SITUATION IN TURKEY CURRENTLY ..

THIS IMAGE WAS JUST SHARED ON THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC PAGE, AND IS TAKEN IN THE HILTON HOTEL, WHICH CONFIRMS ONE OF THE CLAIMS, WHILE THERE ARE OTHER IMAGES CIRCULATING ON THE INTERNET CONFIRMING OTHERS ... - J

"Thank you, I am fine, so are my friends, at least the ones I could reach. Istanbul is living a hell. They are trying to kill the city, the voice of its people. The situation is terrible. The police attacked the park while it was full of thousands of people, including hundreds of small children, old people, disabled and also helpless animals. People were gassed mercilessly. Hundreds of us took refuge to Divan Hotel, which has always opened its doors to protesters. It was hell. Gas entered the hotel together with the protesters. They told us to go to the conference rooms downstairs. There were many children and many hurt people. It was terrible. Like scenes from a gas chamber, a horror film. It was hard to breath, our skin hurt, it was very hot, we sweat like crazy, people cried, fainted, threw up, begged for help... After about an hour and a half, they told us it was safe to flee towards Harbiye. We crossed hundreds of policemen and many armed vehicles in order to reach Nisantasi. The people had taken to the streets to protect this barbarity, shouting and banging pots. Two of my aunts (my friend's aunts) were on the street, soaked, an armed vehicle had thrown water on them, they are in their late 60s and they were almost thrown to the wall. As for the event I mentioned the other day, Kizilay, the Turkish Red Crescent, did indeed refuse to transport hurt people, and a very reliable source (doctor) narrated me the event. The doctors in a small private hospital had to pay a private company to transport a seriously injured person who in the end survived. It's a scandal. We are living in a police state. The police arrested 49 lawyers invading the Palace of Justice the other day. Now they are trying to arrest every single doctor and nurse who aids the injured protesters. The government and the governor of Istanbul still talk of "marginal groups". The mask of democracy and the rule of law have fallen in this country. 

Pray for us and spread the news."

Taksim Hospital also attacked with gas

Message from “Spare Energy”

"People think police has planted some evidence in the gezi park after they took eveyone out of the park.

"The governor said " the protestors are using guns" .this is not true.

"He is saying so in order to make it legal to use real bullets against Turkish people"

I'd say they are getting ready to use the military and start shooting

@Anon_Central: #Turkey: Military has been deployed against civilians