Hundreds of Turks look for Armenians in France’s Vienne, shout threats

Hundreds of Turkish nationalists took to the streets in Lyon, France on Wednesday night, looking for Armenians to “punish” them as if in response to the beating of the Turks by Armenian protesters.

In a video released by France’s Independent Union of Police Commissioners (SICP), the Turks are shouting threats against Armenians. They are heard saying, "Where are you Armenians?", "We are here”.

The Turkish mob also attacked the police, but the latter successfully restrained them.

“Our colleagues once again showed composure and courage in the face of 150 overexcited individuals,” the union said.

A group of peaceful Armenian demonstrators, protesting against the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression against Artsakh, were attacked by Turkish provocateurs on Wednesday. The incident took place when the protesters blocked a highway leading to France's Valence with a demand to stop the war unleashed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.

The Turkish assailants crossed the road from the opposite side and attacked the demonstrators with hammers and knives. One of the protesters lost consciousness after being hit in the head. Afterwards, the assailants provoked a brawl with the demonstrators. The injured Armenian is currently under doctors' care. 

Ça soir, à #Vienne, des #Turcs mènent une expédition punitive à la recherche d’#Armeniens, dans la ville.
Ils croisent et agressent un équipage de la @PoliceNat38.
Nos collègues ont encore fait preuve de sang-froid et de courage face à 150 individus surexcités.#confinement pic.twitter.com/WYizppJHwk

— Commissaires de police - SICP (@SICPCommissaire) October 28, 2020