Turkish truck driver assaulted in Armenian neighborhood in Lebanon

By Turgut Alp Boyraz and Idiris Okuduci

BEIRUT (AA) - A Turkish truck driver was the victim of an attack in northeast Beirut.

The route for Tayar Okden, 52, was obstructed by a group of individuals shortly after he had finished unloading cargo at a workplace in Bourj Hammoud town which is predominantly inhabited by Armenians, late Tuesday.

About 20 individuals, claiming Armenian ethnicity, subjected Okden to physical violence and doused him in paint.

The assailants vandalized his truck, defaced the tarpaulin that bore "Turkkan," shattered the vehicle's windows and inscribed derogatory remarks in English against Türkiye on the vehicle.

"There were around 15 to 20 people involved. They vandalized the tent on my truck due to the visible Turkish labeling. I was forcefully taken down from the vehicle, and paint was maliciously poured on me. Moreover, they deliberately damaged the vehicle's windows and proceeded to defile the interior with paint. Several tires were also punctured, leaving the vehicle immobilized," Okden told Anadolu.

"Following the intervention of the police, the aggressors dispersed. I was eventually able to depart after arranging for a mechanic to repair our tires. At present, I am awaiting transport back to my home country at the Tripoli port. I extend my gratitude to our embassy and government for their concern," he said.

The Lebanese police spokesman declined to answer questions from an Anadolu reporter about the incident.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz in Ankara.