Erdogan’s bodyguards clash with Belgian police during Turkish president’s visit to Brussels
Bodyguards for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan came to blows with Belgian police this week in a turf war over who was responsible for the Turkish president’s security, according to local media, Politico.eu reports.
RTBF reported the sides first faced off on Sunday night, shoving each other behind the scenes at Brussels’ Place Stéphanie, as 3,000 people welcomed the president near his hotel. A second more serious fight broke out on Monday at Val Duchesse Chateau in Brussels when the two sides clashed over who was responsible for checking the rooms Erdoğan would visit.
Punches were thrown and one of the Turkish bodyguards elbowed a member of the Belgian VIP protection service, before the Turk was brought to the ground and calm restored.
Belgian sources told RTBF the incidents stemmed from a lack of respect shown by the Turkish security services, while Belgian state security confirmed the situation was “difficult, even tense.”
The Turkish embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
Erdoğan’s wife Emine also raised eyebrows Monday when a shopping trip along the posh Avenue Louise strip blocked traffic for almost an hour.