A grand jury indicted 19 people, including 15 Turkish security guards over brutal attack against peaceful demonstrators during Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington in May.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said that charges had already been brought against 16 of the defendants, and the indictment of Aug. 29 added three to the list.
The three were named as Muhsin Köse, Yusuf Ayar and Hayrettin Eren, and they were among the 15 Turkish security officials indicted.
“All 19 defendants were indicted on a charge of conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, with a bias crime enhancement,” it said. The charge is punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison and bias enhancement could lead to longer sentences, the statement added.
Some defendants are facing additional charges, including “attempting to attack with a dangerous weapon.”
Turkish government protested the indictment and said that the claims are “biased”.
Eleven demonstrators were hurt as Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s security guards attacked peaceful demonstrators in front Turkish embassy in Washington.
