Ahmet Atakan, Turkish protester, dies after being hit by tear gas canister
A Turkish leftist protester throws stones towards riot policemen during an anti-government demonstration in Istanbul on September 9, 2013.
REYHANLI, Turkey — Ahmet Atakan, a 22-year-old protester, has died in southern Turkey after allegedly being hit by a tear gas canister during a demonstration there, according to Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper.
Atakan was participating in a march held in memory of a 14-year-old local boy who was left in a coma during Istanbul's Gezi Park protests, which swept the nation into a furor of anti-government anger several months ago.
The Atakya rally was also against the construction of a road through the Middle Eastern Technical University, said Hurriyet. During the march, Atakan was reportedly struck on the head by a tear gas canister.
Agence France-Presse said police also resorted to tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters in Istanbul on Monday.
Atakan was reported to have died in the early hours on Tuesday. His death brings to six the number of Turkish protesters killed in recent unrest, said Hurriyet.
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