Watch Turkey riot cops hit protesters with tear gas as masses take to streets over arrest of Erdogan’s most feared rival

THIS is the shocking moment Turkish riot police hit protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets as crowds took to the streets for a fifth night.

Hundreds of thousands took to Istanbul’s streets following the arrest of the city’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu – President Recep Erdogan’s most feared rival.

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The distressing footage shows violent scenes as riot police clash with protesters in Turkey’s largest demonstrations for a decade.

The police can be seen using rubber bullets, pepper spray, and percussion grenades on the crowd, as terrified demonstrators rush to take refuge inside Istanbul’s City Hall.

Masked protesters can also be seen lighting flares and hurling them at the cops in response.

Protests have now spread to more than 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces.

In the capital Ankara, riot police used water cannons to push back protesters.

And in the western coastal…