Protests that began on Friday in Istanbul were met by riot police who used tear gas and water cannons, causing tensions to escalate and resulting in 1,700 arrests.

Over the weekend, crowds gathered and formed barricades at Taksim Square in the centre of the city, where many tourists would go to take buses to the airport. The unrest has now affected 67 cities across the country and reportedly tens of thousands of nationals have taken part.

The Foreign Office said: “Following recent demonstrations in Istanbul and other cities in Turkey in which police used tear gas and water cannons, the possibility of further demonstrations remains high.

As well as Taksim Square, it said Istiklal Street is a common gathering point for demonstrators in Istanbul.

Protests have also occurred in Ankara, where locals demanded the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan resign and in Izmir, Turkey’s third largest city.

Mr Erdogan today called for calm before departing on an official visit to Morocco.