The Washington, D.C., police have charged sixteen people over the fight that broke out on the Turkish Embassy lawn in May.
The sixteen include twelve agents from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan security detail. From Fox News:
The agents, part of Erdogan’s security detail, are in Turkey at this time. It’s unclear how the arrests for the officers and agents will be carried out, but D.C. police said they will be taking “necessary steps” to apprehend the individuals. [District Police Chief Peter] Newsham added that the personnel will be arrested if they attempt to enter the U.S.“We all saw the violence that was perpetrated against the protesters,” Newsham said. “We’re not going to tolerate this.”Newsman said the warrents were issued by the D.C. police, not the state department.
The police also have arrest warrants for two Canadians. Officials arrested two Americans, Eyup Yildirim and Sinan Narin, on Wednesday.
Protesters gathered outside of the embassy to condemn Erdogan’s visit to America. Things became messy when the security detail and a few Erdogan supporters attacked the protesters. From ABC News:
Newsham recounted how video near the residence showed some attacking protesters with their fists and feet. Men in dark suits and others were recorded repeatedly kicking one woman as she lay curled on a sidewalk. A man with a bullhorn was repeatedly kicked in the face. After officers struggled to protect the protesters and ordered the men in suits to retreat, several of the men dodged the officers and ran into a park to continue the attacks.[Mayor Muriel] Bowser said the nation’s capital is a frequent protest venue but police insist those be peaceful. “We make sure they are safe, but we also make sure they follow our laws. And certainly anyone traveling to the United States will be held to that standard,” she said.
In late May, The New York Times analyzed video of the brawl and identified the attackers.
Of course Turkey has not taken responsibility for the actions of the security detail. Officials summoned the U.S. ambassador to Turkey to express their disgust over the actions of the police at the brawl. From USA Today:
In a statement Monday, Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ambassador was summoned and “a written and verbal protest was delivered due to the aggressive and unprofessional actions taken, contrary to diplomatic rules and practices, by U.S. security personnel toward the close protection team of H.E Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.”“It has been formally requested that the U.S. authorities conduct a full investigation of this diplomatic incident and provide the necessary explanation,” the statement said.“During the meeting with the Ambassador, it was emphasized that the lapses of security experienced during our President’s stay in Washington, which were caused by the inability of U.S. authorities to take sufficient precautions at every stage of the official program, will not overshadow what in every other aspect was a very successful and important visit,” it added.
Erdogan and his thugs insist the protesters have connections to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which the US has listed as a terrorist group. Turkey and the PKK have been in a three-decade war with no end in sight. Some at the protest denied the connections.
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