Thousands rally in Istanbul as Erdogan issues warning against protests over mayor's arrest

Protests erupted across multiple Turkish cities denouncing the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul even as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern warning that demonstrations would not be tolerated. Police fired tear gas, pepper spray or water cannons to break up protests in Turkey's three largest cities. Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested this week over alleged corruption and terror links. The move escalated a crackdown on opposition figures and dissenting voices. Several other prominent figures were also detained. Many view the move as a politically driven attempt to remove a popular opposition figure from the next presidential race. The government rejects the accusation.