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Nine People Injured in Protests Against Turkey’s Erdogan in D.C.

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Demonstrators say they were attacked by visiting president’s supporters.

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Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Nine people were injured Tuesday during a protest against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Washington, D.C. Anti-Erdoğan demonstrators had gathered outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence, not far from the Turkish Embassy, after President Trump met with Erdoğan at the White House. They used the meeting to condemn what they described as Erdoğan’s authoritarian policies. The demonstration reportedly turned violent when clashes erupted between Erdoğan supporters and critics. Video from the scene showed police struggling to break up multiple brawls that broke out simultaneously, as two injured people were shown being treated by medics. Several protesters were shown covered in blood. The Washington D.C. Fire and EMS department confirmed the clashes on Twitter, describing it as a “mass-casualty incident.” Authorities have not yet provided any further details on how the violence began, but anti-Erdoğan demonstrators accused Erdoğan supporters of carrying out an unprovoked attack.

Read it at CNN