ISTANBUL
At least 20 people, alleged to have attacked police during May 1 protests, have been taken into custody Wednesday in a broad anti-terror operation in Istanbul, security officials said.
Sources within the anti-terror branch directorate of the Istanbul police department said they had launched a helicopter-supported operation against suspected members of the Maoist Communist Party (MPK).
Members of the group are believed to have attacked police with stones, sticks and Molotov cocktails nearly a month ago.
About 800 policemen, including riot police forces and special operations teams, raided 30 addresses in Istanbul’s 10 districts.
Police sources said that they had confiscated two long-barreled rifles, one pistol and a large number of organizational documents.
A total of 203 illegal protesters were taken into custody in Istanbul during May Day demonstrations held on May 1, according to the province governor Vasip Sahin.
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