Two men have been arrested in connection with a brawl in May outside the Turkish ambassador's residence between protesters and Turkish security personnel during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the United States, Washington, D.C. police said on Wednesday.
New Jersey contractor Eyüp Yıldırım, seen in video footage attacking protestors with Erdoğan's bodyguards and kicking a woman, was charged with assault with significant bodily injury and aggravated assault. A second suspect who also seen in videos kicking a protestor, Virginia resident Sinan Narin, was charged with aggravated assault.
The U.S. official, who was not authorised to speak publicly to the matter and demanded anonymity, said DC police had identified 34 of 42 people who were involved in the fight, and are seeking their arrests. Police are expected to release photos of the other 8 possible suspects and appeal to the public for information on their identities, the official told AP news agency.
The clash happened as Erdoğan arrived at the ambassador's residence after a White House meeting with President Donald Trump on May 16.
Video of the protest showed security guards and some Erdoğan supporters attacking a small group of Kurdish and Armenian 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. Another wrenched a woman's neck and threw her to the ground. A man with a bullhorn was repeatedly kicked in the face.
