Escalating violence and tension in Turkey between the government and Kurdish insurgents spilled over into Japan as a massive brawl broke out in front of the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo on Oct. 25.
At least three Turkish nationals were injured and rushed to a hospital in the free-for-all, which occurred as hundreds of Turks assembled at the embassy to cast their ballots ahead of general elections on Nov. 1.
Turkish men who were present said some Kurds pulled out a flag representing an armed Kurdish separatist group, eliciting a heated reaction from a pro-government group.
According to the Harajuku police station, a shoving match began around 7 a.m. that day among Turks gathering at the embassy for the election, which allows them to cast their ballots while living abroad.
Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department sent riot police to the scene in Shibuya Ward to restore order.
About 200-300 Turks continued scuffling on the street near the embassy until around 1 p.m.
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