USS Ross Sailors Attacked By Turkish Mob In Istanbul, Bags Placed Over Heads? [VIDEO]

USS Ross sailors attacked by about 20 political activists happened in Istanbul Wednesday. Members of the Turkish Youth Union hurled objects at them, chased the three men and at one point, placed a bag over one of the heads of the USS Ross sailors attacked.

The incident was quickly acknowledged by the U.S. Navy. The event of the USS Ross sailors attacked was also captured via video, according to local Turkish press accounts.

The footage showing the USS Ross sailors attacked, and which is now uploaded to YouTube, shows around 20 members of the union shouting "Yankee go home!" in English. Afterwards, they put shopping bags on the sailors' heads before running away. The sailors were reportedly not wearing their uniforms at the time of the attack.

The Turkey Youth Union is opposed to working with the United States and becoming members of the European Union.

"We define you as murderers, as killers... and we want you to get out of our land," said a man seconds before the USS Ross sailors attack happened.

The attack reportedly highlights the explosive nature in Turkey, which though already a long-time U.S. ally, has increasingly become in conflict with Washington's foreign policy. One act of the U.S. government which many Turkish do not agree with is how the U.S. is handling the Islamic State militant group in neighboring Syria.

Because of the USS Ross sailors attacked, Turkish police have reportedly taken 12 people into custody in connection with an investigation into the assault. As of late Wednesday night though, no charges have been filed, reports NBC News.

A statement was posted on the Turkish Youth Union website after the incident of the USS Ross sailors attacked. The statement said the bags were placed on the sailors' heads as a symbol of protest to American "imperialism" in the Middle East and other areas, reports CNN.

"Long live oppressed nation's war against imperialism," said the statement.

"U.S. Navy officials are working with the embassy and (Navy investigators) to investigate the incident. The three sailors were unharmed and are safely back aboard. They did not require medical attention," Capt. Greg Hicks, a spokesman with U.S. European Command, told CNN.

Fortunately, the assailants in the incident of the USS Ross sailors attacked did not appear to have links to ISIS, a group based in Syria. The group, however, carried Turkish flags and a portrait of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Westernizing and secular founder of the republic of Turkey.

"The incident does not reflect the hospitality nor the welcome reception our ships receive in port in Turkey," Hicks added.

He also said that leave for other sailors on the ship had been canceled for the rest of the day.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the incident of the USS Ross sailors attacked and issued a statement addressing the matter.

"We condemn this disrespectful act, which is in no way tolerable," said Spokesman Tanju Bilgic for the Turkish Foreign Ministry in a the statement.

The U.S. Embassy in Turkey also blasted the incident of the USS Ross sailors attacked via a series of tweets.

"We condemn today's attack in Istanbul, and have no doubt the vast majority of Turks would join us in rejecting an action that so disrespects Turkey's reputation for hospitality," the tweet said.

It is reportedly not the first time that the Turkish Youth Union has harassed allied NATO soldiers who are visiting Turkey.

The bags put over the head of the USS Ross sailors attacked are a reference to a time in 2003 when U.S. forces in northern Iraq reportedly detained Turkish Special Forces soldiers. The soldiers were believed to be smuggling weapons to a Turkish-backed group in the city of Kirkuk in Iraq.

The move has since incensed Turkish society and was even portrayed in a popular Turkish film.

According to the Navy, the sailors attacked Wednesday were assigned to the USS Ross, a destroyer ship. They were in Turkey for a scheduled port visit. They were also described by Navy officials as appearing to be in their late teens or early 20s.

Fortunately, the USS Ross sailors, attacked, were able to get away from the assault without suffering any injuries. They have once again been reunited with the Ross.

"The U.S. Navy is currently working with the Turkish National Police and U.S. Embassy staff to investigate this incident," said a statement from U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa. "The U.S. Navy will continue to coordinate with Turkish authorities to review security procedures for future ship visits."

Lt. Timothy Hawkins, a Navy spokesman, said that the Ross already was scheduled to depart Istanbul Thursday and that the attack has not affected operations in any way, according to the Washington Post.

The USS Ross sailors attacked is a result of many Turks disagreeing with the U.S.'s military involvement in the region. However, anti-American sentiment is not entirely all-pervading in the country.

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Istanbul