| | | | Osman Nuri Özdemir, the head of Bingöl’s police force, was removed from office mid-Friday after demonstrations outside a mosque and the office of the Bingöl governor got out of hand and then was broken up by armed forces.
Police officers fired bursts of gunfire over the heads of the crowd for up to two minutes, after having stones thrown at them by demonstrators.
Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed that Özdemir had been suspended at a news conference early Friday afternoon.
Erdoan blamed the protests and resulting violence on a small group of provocateurs and called on the people of Bingöl to remain patient.
“According to intelligence reports, there were serious activities directed at provocation,” the Prime Minister said. “I call on the people of Bingöl to be more calm and sensitive.”
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