Oldhamer hurt in Turkish protests

INJURED . . . Ben Ingham

AN Oldham man in Turkey to discuss climate change with former US vice president Al Gore has been injured during rioting.

Ben Ingham, a salesman with the Safeguard Group in Chadderton was in Istanbul when protests erupted over a local matter.

Ben complained of his face burning from the tear gas used by police officers on Saturday night in an area riddled with unrest in recent weeks. He posted on his Facebook page videos of protests in the Turkish capital and said: “Just been gassed by Turkish police while sat in restaurant eating fish. Had to run to hotel to find them fighting on the street outside the hotel we are in.

“Police are firing rubber bullets and tear gas, which is getting in my room. My eyes and noise burning, but OK. Won’t lie, a little scared here.”

Ben managed to escape the trouble yesterday and was spending the final night of his stay - with his face injury improving - in an airport hotel.