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Police set up barricades after seizing opposition paper

Riot police enter the headquarters of Turkey's largest-circulation newspaper Zaman in Istanbul, Friday, March 4, 2016. The police raid came hours after a court placed it under the management of trustees on Friday. The move against the paper, which is linked to an opposition cleric, heightened concerns over deteriorating press freedoms in the country. (AP Photo)
Riot police enter the headquarters of Turkey's largest-circulation newspaper Zaman in Istanbul, Friday, March 4, 2016. The police raid came hours after a court placed it under the management of trustees on Friday. The move against the paper, which is linked to an opposition cleric, heightened concerns over deteriorating press freedoms in the country. (AP Photo) Riot police enter the headquarters of Turkey's largest-circulation newspaper Zaman in Istanbul, Friday, March 4, 2016. The police raid came hours after a court placed it under the management of trustees on Friday. The move against the paper, which is linked to an opposition cleric, heightened concerns over deteriorating press freedoms in the country. (AP Photo)

By Associated Press 1 min read

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Police have erected fences and are standing watch in front of the headquarters of Turkey’s largest-circulation newspaper a day after it used tear gas and water cannons to storm the building and enforce a court-ordered seizure.

The seizure of Zaman newspaper and its sister outlets Friday has escalated fears over media freedom in Turkey. It is part of a wider government campaign against businesses linked to a movement led by U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen that the government claims is attempting to topple it.

Police set up barricades Saturday to keep out Zaman readers arriving at the building in a show of support.

The English-language Today’s Zaman Saturday edition, published before the forced take-over, printed its entire front page in black with the headline: “Shameful day for free press in Turkey.”