Thousands of demonstrators marched in Istanbul late Friday in support of the city’s jailed mayor, despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s warning that “street terror” will be severely suppressed.

Demonstrations in support of Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan’s main political opponent, who was imprisoned on Wednesday, just days before he is anticipated to be officially announced as a contender in the nation’s 2028 presidential election, took place for the third consecutive night.

According to an AFP tally, protests against Imamoglu’s detention started in Istanbul on Wednesday and swiftly extended to at least 32 of Turkey’s 81 provinces.

Imamoglu’s detention has been referred to as a “coup” by the biggest opposition party in Turkey, the CHP, which plans to nominate him as its presidential candidate.

Ozgur Ozel, its leader, demanded the third nightly demonstration in Istanbul and throughout Turkey. According to AFP journalists, at least 10,000 protesters marched toward the City Hall in Istanbul late Friday.

Protesters shouted, “Don’t be silent, otherwise they’ll come for you!” Many carried signs with the words “Rights, law, justice” and “Don’t be afraid, the people are here” in the air.

A warning that “Turkey will not surrender to street terror” was issued earlier by Erodogan.

“Let me say it loud and clear: the street protests that the CHP leader has called for are a dead end,” Erdogan stated. “Unlawful” is how his government has described the protests.

The governor of Istanbul blocked the Galata Bridge, the Ataturk Bridge, and the main thoroughfares leading to the peninsula, which is home to the City Hall.

The demonstration prohibition was also extended by authorities to the western seaside city of Izmir and the capital, Ankara.

According to AFP journalists, police clashed with students demonstrating in Istanbul and Ankara on Thursday, using tear gas and rubber bullets.

According to Turkish media, at least 88 demonstrators have been taken into custody thus far, and Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that 16 police officers had been injured.

He said that 54 more persons had been arrested by police for posting things online that the authorities considered to be “incitement to hatred”.

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