Protesters attacked police in the Kurdish populated Turkish town of Cizre on the Syrian border
Protesters have clashed with police in several Turkish cities over government reluctance to defend the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane from Islamic State (IS).
The small but strategically important town populated by Syrian Kurds is visible from the Turkish border and is on the brink of falling to IS.
Turkish troops and tanks have lined the border but have not crossed into Syria.
Turkish media reported a wave of protests in cities including Istanbul and the mainly Kurdish Diyarbakir.
About 100 Kurdish protesters broke into the European Parliament
There were also similar protests across Europe.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, forcing a lockdown of the building.
On Monday night pro-Kurdish protesters occupied part of the Dutch parliament in The Hague to demand that the international community do more to defend Kobane from IS.
The complicated relationship between the Turkish and Kurdish populations
Protesters gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday as a lockdown was enforced
Earlier on Monday the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the biggest Kurdish party in Turkey, called for members and supporters to take to the streets and protest against the IS offensive against Kobane.
The PKK is seen as a terrorist group in Turkey, where decades of armed struggle against the Turkish government for self determination has left both sides deeply mistrustful of each other.
Paul Adams hears how the people of Kobane are "very much alone"
Clashes between security forces and demonstrators were reported in several districts of Istanbul including Beyoglu and Gezi, where protesters set fire to a car and a bus, according to Turkish news agency DHA.
One policeman was injured in the clashes after protesters set up barricades and hurled fireworks and firebombs, Dogan news agency reported.
In similar protests in Kurdish-populated cities across Turkey including Diyarbakir and Mardin, police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds.
Meanwhile, groups of Kurds reportedly intending to cross the border with Syria to head for Kobane were stopped by Turkish border police.
According to a witness interviewed by Agence France Presse, about 300 Kurds were stopped in the border town of Suruc.
It is unclear whether they wanted to join the fight against IS or to simply provide humanitarian aid to the besieged town.
Protesters have clashed with police in several Turkish cities over government reluctance to defend the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane from Islamic State (IS).
The small but strategically important town populated by Syrian Kurds is visible from the Turkish border and is on the brink of falling to IS.
Turkish troops and tanks have lined the border but have not crossed into Syria.
Turkish media reported a wave of protests in cities including Istanbul and the mainly Kurdish Diyarbakir.
About 100 Kurdish protesters broke into the European Parliament
There were also similar protests across Europe.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, forcing a lockdown of the building.
On Monday night pro-Kurdish protesters occupied part of the Dutch parliament in The Hague to demand that the international community do more to defend Kobane from IS.
The complicated relationship between the Turkish and Kurdish populations
Protesters gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday as a lockdown was enforced Earlier on Monday the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the biggest Kurdish party in Turkey, called for members and supporters to take to the streets and protest against the IS offensive against Kobane.
The PKK is seen as a terrorist group in Turkey, where decades of armed struggle against the Turkish government for self determination has left both sides deeply mistrustful of each other.
Paul Adams hears how the people of Kobane are "very much alone"
Clashes between security forces and demonstrators were reported in several districts of Istanbul including Beyoglu and Gezi, where protesters set fire to a car and a bus, according to Turkish news agency DHA.
One policeman was injured in the clashes after protesters set up barricades and hurled fireworks and firebombs, Dogan news agency reported.
In similar protests in Kurdish-populated cities across Turkey including Diyarbakir and Mardin, police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds.
Meanwhile, groups of Kurds reportedly intending to cross the border with Syria to head for Kobane were stopped by Turkish border police.
According to a witness interviewed by Agence France Presse, about 300 Kurds were stopped in the border town of Suruc.
It is unclear whether they wanted to join the fight against IS or to simply provide humanitarian aid to the besieged town.
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