Turkey: Riot police clash with nationalists, Kurds at Erzurum rally

Clashes broke out between protesters and riot police in the eastern Turkish city of Erzurum, Thursday, after a group of nationalist demonstrators reportedly attempted to provoke violence ahead of a pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HDP) rally. Police used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to deter demonstrators in an attempt to keep the nationalist group from arriving at the planned rally site of the HDP. One police officer was injured in the clashes, while the nationalist group reportedly set light to a vehicle. The HDP rally went ahead as planned despite the violence, as clashes continue to flare up ahead of the Turkish general elections set for June 7. Several HDP offices and campaign participants have been attacked in the run-up to the polls.