US law enforcement agencies to press charges against Erdogan’s security detail for Washington protest attack

WASHINGTON, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. US Law enforcement agencies are set to press criminal charges against dozen members of Turkish President Erdogan’s security officers for their involvement in the May 16 attack on peaceful protesters in Washington D.C.

The New York Times said several people have already been charged, including two US citizens and two Canadian citizens.

Washington police officials confirmed that the two Americans are Sinan Narin, of Virginia, and Eyup Yildirim, of New Jersey. Mr. Narin was charged with felony and misdemeanor assault. Mr. Yildirim, who can be seen on video repeatedly kicking a protester, was charged with two felony counts and one misdemeanor assault count, the New York Times reported.

The New York Times said “Coming almost a month after the episode, the charges are the most significant retaliatory step taken to date by American authorities, who have fumed privately and publicly over what they see as a highly offensive attack on free speech — not to mention American law enforcement”.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reported that the arrested are not members of the Turkish president’s security detail, but rather ethnic Turks with US citizenship.

A law enforcement official, speaking on conditions of anonymity, said police have identified 34 assailants of the attack and new arrests might happen.