19-year jail term sought for Turkish man involved in DC attack

A total of 18 individuals have been charged or are facing charges in relation with violent assaults against peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence on May 16th during Turkish President Erdoğan's visit.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's bodyguards attacked peaceful demonstrators in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington DC following his meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House on May 16. A total of nine protesters were injured in the assault of Turkish security personnel who were accompanied by a group of Turkish fascists.

After an extensive investigation with the United States Department of State, the United States Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department, a total of 18 individuals have been charged or are facing charges stemming from a physical altercation that occurred during a First Amendment assembly on May 16, 2017.

On May 16, 2017, two individuals, indicated below, were arrested and charged with offenses related to this incident.

  • Jalal Kheirabaoi, of Virginia, charged with misdemeanor Assault on a Police Officer

  • Ayten Necmi, of New York, charged with felony Aggravated Assault

On Wednesday, June 14, 2017, pursuant to DC Superior Court arrest warrants, two individuals, indicated below, were arrested and charged with offenses related to this incident.

  • Sinan Narin, of Virginia, charged with felony Aggravated Assault and misdemeanor Assault or Threatened Assault in a Menacing Manner

  • Eyüp 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

An additional fourteen individuals have outstanding warrants for their arrests.

19 year prison sentence has been asked for Eyüp Yıldırım who will also stand trial for hate crime in addition to aggravated assault and threatened assault.

United States Magistrate Judge for the District of New Jersey, James B. Clark has rejected the appeal for Yıldırım's release on bail, and his trial in New Jersey, deciding on his referral to another prison in Washington.