A mob of hundreds of Turkish nationalists took to the streets overnight in Lyon, France searching for Armenians and chanting death threats. The incident follows the attack on a peaceful Armenian demonstration earlier on October 28.
A Lyon citizen, Natali Bianco, said on social media that the Turkish mob was armed with baseball bats, pipes and other improvised weapons. “In just a few minutes we saw how hundreds of Turkish young people were causing chaos in the city center, waving flags, baseball bats, pipes and smoke. They stormed into the city center chanting “death to Armenians”, “Allah Akbar”, and other slogans. They were obviously looking to start a fight and were threatening passersby who were daring to even look at them.”
Many of them were gesturing the sign of the Grey Wolves, the Turkish ultranationalist organization. Police were dispatched to the scene. The eyewitness said she was “shocked” from the half-hour long “war”.
Three people have been hospitalized with stab wounds after a suspect attacked an Armenian demonstration in Fresno, CA that was held in the northern part of the city in support of Armenia and Artsakh amid the Azeri attacks.
The incident happened at the intersection of Blackstone and Nees, where about 150 demonstrators had blocked off the northbound lanes of Blackstone about 6:40 pm, ABC30 News reported.
That's when one agitated driver came out of his vehicle and had a verbal exchange with the protesters, police say.
"He was cussing us out and threatening us that he is going to damage our cars and also kill us," said Katarina Melikian, who was at the rally. The suspect first ripped the group’s banner, then went back to his vehicle and took a wooden stick and began swinging it violently at the protesters.
As demonstrators attempted to fend him off, he allegedly pulled out a knife and started slashing.
Police said the suspect fled the scene and rammed into other cars.
"We don't stand for hate at all. We stand against hate, we stand against racism," said Sosi Dzhugarrian, one demonstrator.
The demonstrators said this won't discourage their cause.
"We are not going to stop fighting for our country," said Katarina Melikian.
Police say the suspect, who is already under arrest, faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon.
