(VOVworld) – The Turkish government will strengthen its homeland security to deal with increasing violence, said Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Arinc on Monday after a 5-hour cabinet meeting.

A man pours water on an armoured police vehicle after it was set on fire by fire bombs during clashes between protesters and riot police in Istanbul May 22, 2014. (Photo: Reuters)

He said that Turkey was being challenged by terrorism as some 1,500 clashes had occurred in 37 cities and provinces and more than 2 thousand public buildings, including museums, schools, libraries, and government offices were destroyed. Arinc said that the most urgent thing to do now was to conduct a comprehensive reform of Turkish homeland security, including increasing punishments for protesters using petrol bombs to attack security forces and destroy properties.