Turkey Blames U.S. For Violence It Helped Spark At D.C. Protest

Willa Frej
Updated

The blame-game continues for the fight between protesters opposing Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish security forces last week in Washington, with Turkey faulting “the inability of U.S. authorities to take sufficient precautions at every stage of the official program.”

John Bass, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, was summoned to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday in Ankara and given “written and verbal protest” that blamed the altercation on “aggressive and unprofessional actions taken, contrary to diplomatic rules and practices, by U.S. personnel,” according to a statement by the Turkish government.

“It has been formally requested that the U.S. authorities conduct a full investigation of this diplomatic incident and provide the necessary explanation” of the violence that occurred outside the Turkish embassy in Washington last Tuesday, the statement said.

Armenian, Kurdish, Greek and Yazidi groups were protesting Erdogan’s meeting at the White House earlier in the day with President Donald Trump when men in suits began kicking and beating protesters. Video shows D.C. police officiers unable to quickly get the situation under control.

The State Department confirmed last Wednesday that Turkish security personnel were involved. Turkey’s ambassador to the U.S., Serdar Kilic, was summoned to the State Department last week and a department official termed the conduct of Turkish security personnel “deeply disturbing,” according to CNN.

Several members of Congress pushed more forceful action against members of the Turkish security detail. And Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) called for the Turkish ambassador to be sent home.

Two people who live in the U.S. were arrested in the clash and at least 12 people, including a police officer, were injured.

The U.S.-Turkish alliance has been rocky ever since a failed coup last summer was blamed on Turkish cleric Fetullah Gulen, who is exiled in the U.S. Plus, Turkey blames Washington for propping up the YPG, an armed Kurdish group in Syria, as a means of battling the Islamic State .

Erdogan has jailed 47,000 people since last summer and has eliminated about 130,000 government jobs in a post-coup crackdown.

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Heavy damage at the Grand National Assembly.
Heavy damage at the Grand National Assembly.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara.
Wreckage in Ankara.
Wreckage in Ankara.
People walk through rubble after the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was bombed by rebel jets. 
People walk through rubble after the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was bombed by rebel jets. 
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
People inspect damage at the Grand National Assembly.
People inspect damage at the Grand National Assembly.
Workers inspect and clear debris at the Grand National Assembly.
Workers inspect and clear debris at the Grand National Assembly.
A view of a building at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara.
A view of a building at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara.
 A view of Gendarmerie General Command's building.
 A view of Gendarmerie General Command's building.
A view of Gendarmerie General Command's building.
A view of Gendarmerie General Command's building.
A hole is seen in the backyard of the Grand National Assembly.
A hole is seen in the backyard of the Grand National Assembly.
A damaged building is seen near Bosphorus Bridge.
A damaged building is seen near Bosphorus Bridge.
Turkish Coast Guard Command Center.
Turkish Coast Guard Command Center.
Wreckage in Ankara.
Wreckage in Ankara.
Wreckage in Ankara.
Wreckage in Ankara.
Wreckage in Ankara.
Wreckage in Ankara.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.