Turkish police yesterday shut Gezi Park, the Istanbul square at the centre of mass demonstrations in 2013, to prevent any efforts to mark the anniversary of the biggest anti-government protests in decades.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who was the target of many protesters’ ire last year, warned people to stay out of Taksim Square, which adjoins the park, saying security forces would do whatever is necessary to keep the area clear.

Riot police circled the perimeter of Gezi, and hundreds of plainclothes officers carrying batons patrolled Istiklal, a major shopping street that leads to Taksim as well as a popular tourist spot.

Riot police circled the perimeter of Gezi and hundreds of plainclothes officers patrolled Istiklal

There was no sign of unrest at midday. Taksim Solidarity, one of the main organisers of last year’s protest movement, called for a rally at Taksim at 6pm.

On May 31, 2013, police forcefully evicted environmentalists from Gezi Park who had staged a peaceful sit-in for several days to try to stop government plans to raze the green space and build a shopping mall.

Angered by the use of violence, tens of thousands of people from a variety of political backgrounds descended on Gezi and occupied Taksim Square for about two weeks before authorities finally cleared the space. Many complained of what they saw as growing authoritarianism after Erdogan’s decade in office.