On 16 March 1920, the Allies launched a raid which arrested several nationalist politicians and journalists along with occupying military and police installations and government buildings.

Around 05:45, a lorry of British Indian Army troops serving as part of the occupation force arrived near the barracks, which was garrisoned by 61 Ottoman soldiers from the 10th Infantry Division.

Two Ottoman soldiers stationed at the entrance began to resist the occupation by force of arms, leading to a shootout where the British Indian Army captured the barracks.

[4] To this end, the Allied occupational authorities in Istanbul began planning a raid to arrest nationalist politicians and journalists along with occupying military and police installations and government buildings.

[8] Though memory of the raid gradually receded in the following decades, it was revived via commemoration efforts initiated by the government of Turkey in the 21st century.