Thread: 3 US sailors attacked in Istanbul amid chants of 'Yankee go home'

3 US sailors attacked in Istanbul amid chants of 'Yankee go home'



Stars and Stripes
Published: November 12, 2014

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In a scene from a video posted online by the Youth Association of Turkey, a man reported to be a U.S. servicemember, at right, is roughed up by protesters.


Protesters yelling “Yankee go home!” attacked three U.S. sailors in Istanbul, Turkey, on Wednesday, while the guided missile destroyer USS Ross was in port.

The sailors were not injured and all returned to the ship, said Capt. Greg Hicks, a spokesman for U.S. European Command.
Liberty was canceled for the ship’s crew for the remainder of the day, and investigators from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, along with the U.S. Embassy, are looking into the incident.

The Associated Press reported the group that attacked the sailors belonged to the nationalist Youth Association.
A video of the attack was circulating on Turkish media Wednesday, showing a group of about 10 young men standing around the sailors, who were in civilian clothing and appeared to be lined up outside a small building in a marina. One of the men then addressed the sailors in English, calling U.S. troops “killers” and saying “we want you to get out of our land.”

“We are using the right to protest you,” the man said.

Men threw objects at the sailors and began pushing them. They grabbed the sailors’ backpacks while others tried to put bags over their heads. The group then began chanting “Yankee go home!” and chased the sailors as they broke free and ran away.
Several of the men held a banner that read “Youth Association,” according to the AP report.

“We condemn that attack executed by what appear to be thugs on the street,” Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said on Wednesday.

Hicks, the EUCOM spokesman, said the ship was in port briefly. He said liberty for future ships in the area will be determined by the Navy investigation.

There are close to 2,000 troops currently stationed in Turkey with the vast majority operating out of Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey.

The Ross routinely makes patrols in the Mediterranean from its home port in Rota, Spain.

“These attackers bring great discredit upon the Turks and the Turkish reputation for hospitality which is well-known,” Warren said.

But the Pentagon doesn’t see this attack as having long-term consequences for bilateral relations.

“We enjoy a strong relationship with our NATO ally in Turkey” and “we don’t see this as something that will disrupt that strong relationship,” Warren said.

“The U.S. Navy is currently working with the Turkish National Police and U.S. Embassy staff to investigate this incident. The U.S. Navy will continue to coordinate with Turkish authorities to review security procedures for future ship visits,” the Navy said in a statement.

No travel warnings have been issued for Turkey and there are currently no travel restrictions for U.S. troops.

At this point, Pentagon officials don’t see a wider threat to American troops in the country.

“As of right now this appears to be a one-off incident,” Warren said.

http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/3-us-sailors-attacked-in-istanbul-amid-chants-of-yankee-go-home-1.313822

I won't be going to Turkey anytime soon. The Russians however love it ..

US Soldiers Attacked in Istanbul