The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador to Ankara to convey Turkey’s dismay over the treatment of the Turkish bodyguards by Washington, D.C., police after a brawl between protesters and the Turkish security personnel protecting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last Tuesday.
The ministry said in a statement that it summoned the American ambassador to protest “aggressive and unprofessional actions” by U.S. police to the security team of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
“It has been formally requested that the U.S. authorities conduct a full investigation of this diplomatic incident and provide the necessary explanation,” the ministry said.
It also lamented about the lapses of security occurred during President Erdogan’s presence in Washington, a situation that was caused “by the inability of the U.S. authorities to take sufficient precautions at every stage of the official program.”
The brawl and beating of protesters rattled the American public. Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, even called for the removal of the Turkish Ambassador from Washington, D.C.
Washington police described actions of Turkish bodyguards from security detail of President Erdogan as a brutal attack on protesters.
“Yesterday we witnessed what appeared to be a brutal attack on peaceful protests. First and foremost I will say that that is not something that we will tolerate in Washington, D.C.,” Police Chief Newsham said on Wednesday.
Necmi Ayten, Woodside, N.Y., who works as an embassy staff, was detained by the police, but then was released after State Department’s intervention.
The meek response of the White House administration has become a source of controversy in the Senate. Senator McCain called on the State Department to take a more swift action against Turkey.
On Sunday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told “Fox News Sunday” that the incident outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence was “outrageous.” He said the Donald Trump administration has expressed “dismay,” and summoned the Turkish ambassador to State Department.
He, however, appeared to be cautious, saying that the administration will wait for the investigation launched by State Department before taking an action.
“You don’t need any further information, just look at the clip,” Senator McCain told Fox on the same day, rebuffing Mr. Tillerson’s remarks.
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