CORRECTS - 9 injured in Washington protest during Erdogan visit

By Hakan Copur

WASHINGTON (AA) - Nine people were injured and two arrested during clashes between rival groups of protestors outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence in the U.S. capital on Tuesday, police said.

The violence coincided with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official visit to Washington and broke out as Erdogan entered the residence on Tuesday afternoon, an Anadolu Agency correspondent at the scene said.

Citing police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, The Washington Post newspaper reported two arrests during the confrontation.

The newspaper said one of the nine people hospitalized was in a serious condition.

Turkish national Alp Kenan Dereci was among those injured during the protest.

Clashes broke out when a group of male and female protesters began chanting anti-Turkish slogans as Erdogan, who had earlier met President Donald Trump at the White House, arrived.

Some of the protesters carried posters and flags linked to the PKK terrorist organization, the Anadolu Agency correspondent reported.

Counter-protesters on the other side of the road wave Turkish flags before fighting broke out between the groups as police attempted to stop the violence.