Berkin Elvan’s mother (C) was surrounded by mourners outside the hospital on Tuesday

A 15-year-old boy has died in hospital in Turkey nine months after a tear gas canister fired by police during a protest struck him on the head and put him in a coma.

Berkin Elvan was going to buy bread in Istanbul last June when he was wounded.

His is the eighth death linked to the anti-government protests which began in the city’s Gezi Park and spread across Turkey.

As a crowd gathered outside the hospital, clashes erupted with police.

The boy’s family said on Twitter that their son had died at 07:00 (05:00 GMT) on Tuesday. He had been in a coma for 269 days.

The protesters had initially been angered by plans to raze Gezi Park and redevelop it but the police crackdown galvanised anti-government demonstrators in several cities.

Berkin Elvan was 14 when he was hit on the head by the tear gas canister in the Istanbul neighbourhood of Okmeydan. He was one of thousands of people hurt during the protests.

Protesters attacked a riot police vehicle outside the hospital where Berkin Elvan died

The injuries Berkin Elvan suffered enraged protesters in Istanbul last year

His health had deteriorated in recent weeks and doctors said his weight had dropped to 16kg (35lb).

Of the eight protesters whose deaths were related to the demonstrations, one was a police officer.

After the boy’s death was announced, his mother appeared outside outside Okmeydani hospital and was quickly surrounded by mourners. Tributes appeared on social media in Turkey and a crowd gathered.

Riot police arrived at the scene and protesters attacked one of their vehicles. Journalists at the scene say police responded by firing pepper spray at the crowd.

Further demonstrations are expected later in Istanbul and the capital, Ankara. The funeral is due to take place on Wednesday.

Source: bbc.com

• 
•