Legislators injured as fight breaks out in Turkey’s parliament

Five members of Turkey’s parliament were injured on Wednesday when a fight broke out among lawmakers with chairs thrown and water glasses hurled across the room.
The report said the Speaker’s gavel was used as a weapon while two people were taken to hospital for treatment after the incident which occurred in the middle of the night.
The Dogan News Agency and the Hurriyet newspaper reported that one legislator suffered a head injury, according to photographs posted to social media.
The brawl came as tensions rise between the opposition and ruling party over a new security bill the government is aiming to push through.
The bill under debate would expand certain police powers. The government introduced it following violent protests in October.
The pro-Kurdish HDP party is opposed to the legislation, while the parliamentarians from the ruling Justice and Development Party were backing their government’s proposal.
This is hardly the first fight in Turkey’s parliament. Punches were thrown last year during a debate on reforms to the judicial system.