Turkey has arrested 15 members of a radical nationalist youth movement accused of assaulting two US military personnel in the western city of Izmir, authorities said on Monday.
Those arrested were members of the vehemently anti-American Turkish Youth Union (TGB), whose members have previously committed attacks against US servicemen.
The sailors were part of the crew of the USS Wasp, an American amphibious assault ship docked in Izmir since September 1.
“A group of 15 members of the TGB physically attacked two American servicemen in civilian clothes,” the Izmir prefecture said in a statement.
“Our law enforcement agencies intervened quickly… Fifteen suspects were arrested,” the statement added.
On social media network X, the American embassy in Turkey confirmed the assault and said the victims were safe.
“We thank Turkish authorities for their rapid response and ongoing investigation,” the embassy added.
Claiming the attack, the TGB posted a video on its X account in which several people are seen forcing a bag over the head of a person dressed in civilian clothes as the attackers chant: “Yankee go home!” in English.
“American soldiers who carry the blood of our soldiers and thousands of Palestinians on their hands cannot defile our country,” the TGB said.
