CNN International reporter ‘detained, kicked’ in Istanbul when on air

Police intervened in the live shooting by CNN International, questioning the broadcaster’s correspondent.

As tensions rise hours before the planned protests at Istanbul’s Taksim Square, police intervened in the live shooting by CNN International, questioning the broadcaster’s correspondent. 

“Turkish police detained me and my crew in the middle of a live report in Taksim Square," reporter Ivan Watson on his Twitter account, also sharing photos of the moment. 

“One officer kneed me in the butt,” he wrote.

Watson was released soon. 

"Turkish police released CNN team after half an hour. Officer apologized for another officer who kneed me while I was being detained," he said in a tweet later. 

"Turkish police officer wasn't satisfied with my press card from prime ministry. 'Many are counterfeited,' he said, demanding passport, too," he said. 

Daily Cumhuriyet reported that a police officer ordered his inferiors to detain the crew if they fail to show their passports. 

Taksim Solidarity, one of the initiators of last year’s Gezi protests, had called on people to gather in Taksim at 7 p.m. to remember the victims of police violence last year. 

Prime Minister Erdoğan said earlier today that the police would not let any protests in Taksim today.