Turkish officials indicted

A GRAND JURY indicted 19 people Tuesday, including 15 Turkish security officials who allegedly attacked protesters in a wild melee during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s U.S. visit in May. The indictments charge the men with fighting demonstrators (photo) who gathered outside the home of the Turkish ambassador while waiting for Erdogan to conclude a meeting with President Trump at the White House on May 16.

All 19 are charged with conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, which is punishable by up to15 years in prison.

Sixteen of the security guards were charged on June 13; Tuesday’s indictment adds three new men, all Turkish officials.

Two of the defendants were arrested in June and face an initial court hearing on Sept. 7. The rest remain at large.

Several are members of Erdogan’s security detail who returned with him to Turkey.

The case threatens to further complicate tense relations between the two NATO allies.

Ankara strongly opposes the U.S. decision to arm Syrian Kurdish rebels fighting Islamic State terrorists in Syria.