Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Istanbul on Wednesday evening in demonstrations following the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

Turkish police detained Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure, accusing him of corruption and aiding a terrorist organization, according to Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc. The crackdown also included the arrest of over 100 of his aides and members of his party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), which described the move as a "political coup against the will of the people."

Imamoglu was taken to a police station under heavy security, while hundreds of his supporters gathered near the building, waving Turkish flags. By evening, despite the cold weather, thousands of citizens staged mass protests in front of Istanbul's municipal building, chanting slogans such as "Erdogan is a dictator" and "Imamoglu, you are not alone."

Speaking from atop a bus, CHP leader Özgür Özel addressed President Erdogan, saying, "Do you hear us, Erdogan? Do you see us?" He asserted that the events were an attempt to overturn the people's will. Özel, standing alongside Imamoglu's wife, Dilek Imamoglu, claimed the charges against the mayor were baseless, stating, "His only crime is winning people's hearts and preparing to be the next president."

Imamoglu was reportedly taken from his home early Wednesday morning, shortly after the pre-dawn meal (suhoor), according to his wife. In a video posted on the platform X (formerly Twitter), Imamoglu said, "Hundreds of police officers stormed my home," condemning the manner of his arrest.

A statement from the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office accused Imamoglu of "corruption and extortion" and described him as the leader of a "profit-driven criminal organization." The arrests also targeted local officials, advisors, journalists, and businesspeople.

Authorities announced a ban on protests until Sunday, closed Istanbul's iconic Taksim Square, and imposed restrictions on social media to prevent the spread of news related to the demonstrations.