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A brawl outside theTurkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., was captured on video Tuesday -- as witnesses claimed that members of PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan's security detail attacked protesters. Erdogan was in the U.S. for a meeting with President Donald Trump at the time.

Two people were arrested after the incident: one for aggravated assault and one for assault on a police officer. 11 people were hurt in the brawl, including a police officer.

"We witnessed what appeared to be a brutal attack on peaceful protesters," a police official said on Wednesday.

Witnesses toldThe Guardianthat the fight erupted when the Turkish presidents security attacked protesters carrying the flag of the Kurdish PYD party outside the embassy, hours after Erdogan met with Trump at the White House.

Video footage posted on social media showed some protesters bloodied as others were being beaten on the ground.

All of the sudden they just ran towards us, said Yazidi Kurd demonstrator Lucy Usoyan. She said a pro-Erdogan supporter attacked her.

ACTIVISTS URGE TRUMP TO PROD ERDOGAN ON RIGHTS

Someone was beating me in the head nonstop, and I thought, Okay, Im on the ground already, what is the purpose to beat me? she added.

Metropolitan police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said the altercation broke out between two groups.

"The actions seen outside the Turkish Embassy yesterday in Washington, D.C. stand in contrast to the First Amendment rights and principles we work tirelessly to protect each and everyday," the police department said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

"The Metropolitan Police Department made two arrests following yesterday's incidents and we have every intention to pursue charges against the other individuals involved. We will continue to work with our partners at the United States State Department and United States Secret Service to identify and hold all subjects accountable for their involvement in the altercation."

MATTIS MEETS WITH TURKEY PM AMID DISPUTE OVER ARMING SYRIAN KURDS

Trump and Erdogan met to try to renew ties after the U.S. announced it was going to supply arms to the Kurdish group in its fight against the Islamic State.

Turkey considers the group a terror organization.

It is absolutely unacceptable to take the YPG-PYD into consideration as partners in the region, and its going against a global agreement we reached, Erdogan said. In the same way, we should never allow those groups who want to change the ethnic or religious structures in the region to use terrorism as a pretext, he added, suggesting that the Kurds were using the anti-ISIS fight as cover for separatist nationalism.

An investigation into the brawl is still ongoing. Police could not confirm that Erdogan's bodyguards were involved.

"This is a city where people should be able to come and peacefully protest," the police official said. "This is not something we can tolerate in our city."

Fox News' Jennifer Griffin, Matt Richardson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Erdogan's bodyguards accused of attacking protesters outside ...

A little more than a year ago in the same city, journalists accused members of Erdogan's security detail of man-handling them and cursing them at a speech the Turkish president gave at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank.

Outside the event on March 31, 2016, DC police had to intervene to separate Erdogan supporters and protesters in what police described as a "skirmish involving demonstrators."

Erdogan referred to the protests as he addressed the audience inside: "They are shouting, but they don't know what's going on back in Turkey. The freedom of expression has been regulated within the clauses of the Turkish constitution ... They are pretending that I have illegitimacy."

Meanwhile Brookings staff had to step in to protect a credentialed journalist from being evicted from the venue by Turkish security. Another journalist, Woodrow Wilson fellow Amberin Zaman, accused a Turkish security guard of calling her "a whore."

The incident took place in the mining town of Soma, a day after a devastating coal mine fire killed nearly 300 people as Prime Minister Erdogan visisted the town.

The image outraged many in Turkey, prompting an outpouring of anger on social media.

The aide, identified as Yusuf Yerkel by Turkish media and CNN Turk, reportedly said he was deeply saddened by the events.

"I am sad that I could not keep my calm in the face of all the provocation, insults, and attacks that I was subjected to that day," he said, according to Turkey's semi-official Anadolu news agency.

In September 2011, a brawl erupted between members of then Prime Minister Erdogan's security detail and United Nations security officers in the halls of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

A UN guard was reportedly taken to hospital with an injury after the incident.

Several days later, a spokesman for the UN Secretary General issued a statement about "some unfortunate misunderstandings involving security between UN uniformed officials and security officials of member delegations."

After this week's assault by Turkish security officials against protesters in front of the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington, the US State Department said it was "communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms."

A statement from the Turkish embassy argued "Turkish-Americans responded in self-defense."

Critics argue the violence illustrates the much broader pattern of human rights abuses in Turkey.

In the 15 years that Erdogan has served as prime minister and president of Turkey, there has been a broad trend to crack down on freedom of the press and expressions of public dissent.

Turkey is frequently ranked as the world's top jailer of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

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Erdogan entourage's history of violence - CNN

A little bit of Recep Tayyip Erdogans regime came to Washington for Erdogans visit with President Trump earlier this week. In this case, a little bit is way too much, although it may be a representative sample.

Tom Rogan notes that on Tuesday the Turkish Presidential Protection Department attacked peaceful protesters on American soil (video below). Making themselves feel right at home in Washington, TPPD officers launched a coordinated attack on pro-Kurdish protesters outside the Turkish ambassadors residence.

The State Department has issued what Rogan calls a placid semi-condemnation. Here it is in its entirety: We are concerned by the violent incidents involving protestors and Turkish security personnel Tuesday evening. Violence is never an appropriate response to free speech, and we support the rights of people everywhere to free expression and peaceful protest. We are communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms.

Rogan shows why the boilerplate is not enough. He does his best to capture the outrage that the Turks have committed on our soil and propose good ideas for action.

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Mr. Erdogan goes to Washington - Power Line (blog)

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(CNN) - The bloody brawl this week on Washington, D.C.'s Embassy Row is not the first time members of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's entourage have been filmed fighting in public.

A little more than a year ago in the same city, journalists accused members of Erdogan's security detail of man-handling them and cursing them at a speech the Turkish president gave at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank.

Outside the event on March 31, 2016, D.C. police had to intervene to separate Erdogan supporters and protesters in what police described as a "skirmish involving demonstrators."

Erdogan referred to the protests as he addressed the audience inside: "They are shouting, but they don't know what's going on back in Turkey. The freedom of expression has been regulated within the clauses of the Turkish constitution ... They are pretending that I have illegitimacy."

Meanwhile, Brookings staff had to step in to protect a credentialed journalist from being evicted from the venue by Turkish security. Another journalist, Woodrow Wilson fellow Amberin Zaman, accused a Turkish security guard of calling her "a whore."

In May 2014, after the deadliest industrial accident in Turkish history, a top aide to Erdogan was photographed kicking a protester who was being held down by armed officers dressed in camouflage uniforms.

The incident took place in the mining town of Soma, a day after a devastating coal mine fire killed nearly 300 people as Prime Minister Erdogan visited the town.

The image outraged many in Turkey, prompting an outpouring of anger on social media.

The aide, identified as Yusuf Yerkel by Turkish media and CNN Turk, reportedly said he was deeply saddened by the events.

"I am sad that I could not keep my calm in the face of all the provocation, insults, and attacks that I was subjected to that day," he said, according to Turkey's semi-official Anadolu news agency.

In September 2011, a brawl erupted between members of then Prime Minister Erdogan's security detail and United Nations security officers in the halls of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

A UN guard was reportedly taken to hospital with an injury after the incident.

Several days later, a spokesman for the UN Secretary-General issued a statement about "some unfortunate misunderstandings involving security between UN uniformed officials and security officials of member delegations."

A UN spokesman went on to tell journalists the issue had been resolved, and "necessary action has also been taken to prevent such misunderstandings in the future.

After this week's assault by Turkish security officials against protesters in front of the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington, the US State Department said it was "communicating our concern to the Turkish government in the strongest possible terms."

A statement from the Turkish embassy argued: "Turkish-Americans responded in self-defense."

Critics argue the violence illustrates the much broader pattern of human rights abuses in Turkey.

"Clearly Erdogan's guards feel complete impunity, drawing on tools of repression they use at home & knowing he has their back, no matter what," wrote former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power on Twitter.

In the 15 years that Erdogan has served as prime minister and president of Turkey, there has been a broad trend to crack down on freedom of the press and expressions of public dissent.

Turkey is frequently ranked as the world's top jailer of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

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Erdogan entourage has history of violence - Concho valley homepage

The United States is on a collision course with its NATO ally Turkey, pushing ahead with arming Syrian Kurds after deciding the immediate objective of defeating Islamic State militants outweighs the potential damage to a partnership vital to U.S. interests in the volatile Middle East.

The Turks are fiercely opposed to the U.S. plans, seeing the Kurdish fighters as terrorists. And when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits the White House on Tuesday, the most he and President Donald Trump may be able to do is agree to disagree, and move on.

If we are strategic allies, then we should make decisions in alliance, Erdogan told the Sabah newspaper Sunday. If our alliance is going to be overshadowed, then we should take care of ourselves, he said. We cant allow this alliance to be taken over by policies against Turkey.

The challenge is hardly new. Long before Trump took office, U.S. presidents have grappled with the fragility of partnering with Turkeys government and the Kurds to carry out a Middle East agenda.

Jonathan Schanzer at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies told The Associated Press that the Turks see this as a crisis in the relationship.

Past administrations have sought a delicate balance. Too exuberant in its support for the Kurds, and the U.S. risks pushing ally Turkey toward U.S. geopolitical rivals like Russia or emboldening the Kurds to try to create an independent state a scenario that would destabilize multiple countries in the region. Too little cooperation with the Kurds risks squandering a battlefield ally with proven effectiveness against extremist threats and who has staunchly supported Washington.

Trump has made his priorities clear.

His administration is arming Syrian Kurdish fighters as part of an effort to recapture the Syrian city of Raqqa, the Islamic State groups self-declared capital. Coupled with the U.S.-backed fight in the Iraqi city of Mosul, Raqqa is seen as a key step toward liberating the remaining territory the militants hold.

Turkey has been pressuring the U.S. to drop support for the Kurdish militants in Syria for years and doesnt want them spearheading the Raqqa effort. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish group, known as the YPG, a terrorist group because of its ties to the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party inside Turkey. The United States, the European Union and Turkey all agree the PKK is a terrorist organization.

The Turks fear any weapons the U.S. provides the Syrian Kurds could well end up with their ethnic brethren in Turkey, whove fought violently as part of a separatist insurgency for more than three decades. As a nod to Turkeys concerns, the Pentagon has promised tight monitoring of all weapons and greater intelligence sharing to help the Turks better watch over their frontiers. Kurds are an ethnic group predominantly concentrated along the borders of four countries Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

But a face-to-face confrontation on the matter between Trump and Erdogan seems inevitable.

Erdogan and other top Turkish officials have pressed for the U.S. to reverse its strategy, however low the prospects of Trump changing his mind. As a result, experts see Erdogan using the meeting to confront Trump on a host of other Turkish grievances. Those include extraditing the Pennsylvania-based cleric, Fethullah Gulen, whom Erdogan blames for fomenting a failed coup last summer, and dropping U.S. charges against Reza Zarrab, a Turkish businessman accused of money-laundering and violating U.S. sanctions in Iran.

I see this trip as a new milestone in Turkey-U.S. relations, Erdogan said, as he prepared to fly to Washington.

The U.S., too, has a wish list for Turkey. Washington is concerned by rising anti-Americanism in Turkey that Erdogans government has tolerated since the July coup attempt. The U.S. also has pressed unsuccessfully for the release of Andrew Brunson, an American pastor, and other detained U.S. citizens.

Trump has prioritized protecting U.S. national security interests over lecturing allies on democratic values or human rights, said James Phillips, a senior research fellow for Middle Eastern affairs at the Heritage Foundation. I dont think the president will lose any sleep if he is criticized for meeting with President Erdogan, as long as it pays dividends for advancing his foreign policy agenda.

But Erdogan may not be amenable to accepting the U.S. military support for the Kurds in a quid pro quo. Last month, the Turkish military bombed Kurdish forces in Syria and Iraq, in one case with American forces only about six miles away. His government has insisted it may attack Syrian Kurdish fighters again. The U.S., whose forces are sometimes embedded with the Kurds, has much to fear.

Barack Aydin of the Washington-based Kurdish Policy Research Center, said the key ought to be a broader peace process between Erdogans government and Kurdish opponents in Turkey, which would eliminate these problems.

That would be a very good start, Aydin said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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Trump meets with Erdogan amid friction between US, Turkey - Fox News