Reactions are growing against Turkish President Erdoğan's guards' attack on a peaceful demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in Washington during his yesterday's visit to the city for a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

12 INJURED

Washington Chief of Police Peter Newsham criticized the “brutal attack” on peaceful demonstrators, stating that 11 people and 1 police officer got injured and 9 of them were hospitalized.

Following the attack, police detained two suspects residing in the US and launched an investigation. One of the detainees is accused of causing injury by use of violence and the other of attacking a police officer.

As footage from the scene show Erdoğan's guards and supporters attack Kurdish demonstrators and try to lynch them, the investigating authorities stated that they have images from the physical altercation. Witnesses speaking to the US media also stated that Erdoğan's guards were involved in the assault.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE: WE ARE CONCERNED

The State of Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert released a statement on the incident, which said: “We are concerned by the violent incidents involving protestors and Turkish security personnel Tuesday evening. Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest. We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms.”

MAYOR: ATTACK IS AN AFFRONT TO OUR VALUES

Mayor of Washington DC Muriel Bowser also issued a statement on the aggression, saying; “What we saw yesterday – a violent attack on a peaceful demonstration – is an affront to DC values and our rights as Americans. I strongly condemn these actions and have been briefed by Chief Newsham on our response. The Metropolitan Police Department will continue investigating the incident and will work with federal partners to ensure justice is served.”

On the other hand, Washington police did not officially confirm that the men in black suits seen among those assaulting the demonstrators were Erdoğan's guards, stating that investigation into incident continued. Chief of Police Newsham said the police intervention was risky as there were some people with guns.

TWO ARRESTED BY SECRET SERVICE

Newsham said this carried the risk of generating a diplomatic diplomatic immunity problem but would still not prevent the continuation of investigation.

The United States Secret Service has arrested two people in relation with the assault.

In the meantime, a campaign has been launched on social media with the hashtag #ArrestErdogansBodyguards with images of those attacking peaceful demonstrators outside the Turkish Embassy.