American military and diplomatic officials are investigating an apparent assault by Turkish activists on three U.S. sailors Wednesday during a scheduled port stop in Istanbul.
{mosads}Video uploaded online Wednesday shows a small crowd throwing paint at a sailor, then chanting “Yankee go home” while attempting to place white bags over the sailor’s head.
“We want you to get out of our land,” a man is heard in the video speaking in broken English. The crowd of about 20 people were self-identified members of the Turkish Youth Union, according to a statement from the Navy.
The sailors are assigned to the USS Ross, but were dressed in civilian clothes at the time of the incident.
Officials with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Embassy in Ankara, along with Turkish National Police, are investigating, according to the Navy. The sailors were not hurt and made it back aboard the ship.
Turkish national television station NTV reported that a dozen people were arrested after the incident, according to Agence France-Presse.
In a tweeted statement, the U.S. embassy called the attack “appalling.”
“While we respect the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, we condemn today’s attack in Istanbul, and have no doubt the vast majority of Turks would join us in rejecting an action that so disrespects Turkey’s reputation for hospitality,” according to the statement.
The Navy used more diplomatic language, citing “a strong relationship with Turkey for many years.”
“Turkish ports have long been very popular destinations for U.S. Navy ships, and our Sailors have enjoyed the warm hospitality that has traditionally been extended,” the Navy said in a statement, noting it would “continue to coordinate with Turkish authorities to review security procedures for future ship visits.”