Erdogan 'bodyguards' clash with protesters outside Turkish embassy in Washington DC
Two arrested during violent protest against Donald Trump's meeting with Turkish President

Two people were arrested and at least nine were injured after a fight broke out in Washington DC shortly after Donald Trump's meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
According to witnesses, the demonstrators, some carrying the flag of the Kurdish PYD (Democratic Union Party), were attacked by Erdogan's bodyguards outside the Turkish embassy, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Video footage on Facebook shows several people, including men dressed in black suits, trading punches.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Some of the men were seen kicking people as they lay on the ground," claims Buzzfeed News.
Demonstrators Flint Arthur told CNN: "They think they can engage in the same sort of suppression of protest and free speech that they engage in in Turkey.
"They stopped us for a few minutes... but we still stayed and continued to protest Erdogan's tyrannical regime."
He added they had been "protesting [Erdogan's] policies in Turkey, in Syria and in Iraq".
If true, this is not the first time Erdogan’s security forces have roughed up protesters on US soil, says Quartz.
Clashes between demonstrators and the Turkish leader’s guards were reported by the Washington Post last year, while in 2014, Turkish security threatened and pushed journalists working for a newspaper in New York that was perceived to be critical of Erdogan.
Footage of the latest incident provoked outrage online. "Why is Erdogan allowed to bring goons with him into the United States?" tweeted David Frum, senior editor of The Atlantic.
Blake Hounshell, US editor of Politico magazine, laid the blame for the "insane" incident at the door of President Erdogan.
After their meeting, Trump and Erdogan told a joint press conference they had committed to strengthening bilateral relations.
"We've had a great relationship and we will make it even better," the US President said. "We look forward to having very strong and solid discussions."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Kaja Kallas: the EU's new chief diplomat shaping the future of European defense
In the Spotlight Former Estonian Prime Minister's status as an uncompromising Russia hawk has gone from liability to strength
By David Faris Published
-
7 ways to drink spectacularly across the United States this spring
The Week Recommends A bar for every springtime occasion
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Test flight of orbital rocket from Europe explodes
Speed Read Isar Aerospace conducted the first test flight of the Spectrum orbital rocket, which crashed after takeoff
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The fight for control of Ukraine's nuclear reactors
The Explainer How serious is Donald Trump about US ownership of Kyiv's nuclear power plants?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Turkey arrests Istanbul mayor, a top Erdogan rival
Speed Read Protests erupted in Turkey after authorities detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The El Salvador mega-prison at the centre of Trump's deportation scheme
The Explainer Invoking a 1798 law, the US president has sent hundreds of alleged gang members to high-security prison called 'black hole of human rights'
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Romania's election chaos risks international fallout
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By barring far-right candidate Calin Georgescu from the country's upcoming electoral re-do, Romania places itself in the center of a broader struggle over European ultra-nationalism
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published