137 detained in Istanbul for defying May Day ban

Turkish police on Wednesday detained 137 people across Istanbul who were allegedly attempting to defy a ban on celebrating May Day at the center of the city.

Various groups under leftist organizations and several labor unions tried to march to the iconic Taksim Square which was closed to rallies, the private Demiroren news agency reported.

Police intervened against the groups in at least five districts to prevent them from marching toward the square.

The square has a symbolic meaning for the unions, as 34 workers were killed during 1977 May Day celebrations by shots fired from a nearby building. Since then, Turkey's worker unions and laborers have been insisting on commemorating the killings at the square.

However, all kinds of demonstrations were banned at the square following anti-government protests at the adjoining Gezi Park in June 2013.

Meanwhile, thousands of laborers gathered at a government-designated square in the Bakirkoy district to mark May Day, protesting against high cost of living, rising unemployment and inflation rate.