The State Department and Washington Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) confirmed to the Washington Free Beacon on Wednesday that two people have been arrested for their actions during an attack by supporters and employees of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on protesters in Washington, D.C.
"Sinan Narin, of Virginia, charged with felony Aggravated Assault and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner," Rachel Reid, MPD public affairs specialist, told the Free Beacon. "Eyup Yildirim, of New Jersey, charged with felony Assault with Significant Bodily Injury, felony Aggravated Assault and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner."
The State Department said the arrests are part of their commitment to hold the perpetrators accountable.
"The Department would like to thank the Department of Justice and the investigative agencies for their diligence," a State Department spokesperson told the Free Beacon. "We are committed to holding those responsible for the violence on May 16 accountable. As we have previously stated, the events surrounding the conduct of Turkish Security personnel during President Erdogan's visit to the United States are troubling."
The agency said it will consider taking additional measures against the two men.
"Now that charges have been filed, the Department will weigh additional actions for the named individuals, as appropriate under relevant laws and regulations," the spokesperson said. "Any further steps will be responsive and proportional to the charges or arrests."
The statements from the MPD and State Department confirm reporting based on anonymous sources from The Daily Caller and Washington Hatti.
The arrests come a week after the House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution condemning the attack. The Turkish government has blamed the incident on the protesters and said they were the ones who instigated the violence, but video evidence contradicts that claim. The video shows Erdogan supporters and Turkish personnel pushing through MPD officers and physically beating the protesters on American soil.
MPD police chief Peter Newsham said in the immediate aftermath of the attack that diplomatic immunity may present a problem in charging the Turkish personnel for their roles in the attack. The two men charged on Wednesday do not appear to be Turkish personnel.