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Fourteen arrested after Erdogan's visit

Staff reporter
Staff reporter - [email protected]
Fourteen arrested after Erdogan's visit
Photo: Paul Gillingwater

Supporters and opponents of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan clashed yesterday afternoon resulting in fourteen arrests.

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A euphoric crowd of 13,000 supporters cheered and waved Turkish flags at Vienna's Albert Schultz Hall, as Erdogan declared he had "come to win hearts".

On the streets outside however, opponents of the Turkish prime minister held a number of counter demonstrations, some of which turned violent.

In one incident in Lassallestraße, police fired pepper spray to stop clashes between protesters. According to police spokesman, Roman Hahslinger, fighting broke out when a bottle was thrown from a restaurant into the march.

Officers from the special police unit, WEGA, were called to the scene, one of whom was slightly injured.  The bottle thrower was arrested.

There was also a confrontation between supporters and opponents of Erdogan under the metro bridge at U1 Kagran, and clashes on Wagramer Straße and adjacent streets.

A total of fourteen people were arrested, from both camps. Police estimate approximately 7,850 protesters were involved in the anti-Erdogan demonstrations in Wagramer Straße.

A second smaller demonstration was held by the Association for the Promotion of the Philoshopy of Kemal Ataturk. Approximately 350 protesters marched from Operngasse to the Votive Church, without incident.

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