LAPD Seeks Help to Identify Suspects in Attack on Turkish Diplomats at USC
Los Angeles, CA – The Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division has issued a public appeal for assistance in identifying four individuals linked to an attack on members of the Turkish Consulate. The incident occurred on the University of Southern California (USC) campus, following an event hosted by Armenian students and community members on September 29, 2023.
The confrontation took place at the intersection of Downey and Watt ways, immediately after the conclusion of the Armenian community’s event. According to the LAPD, the suspects, believed to be part of a group of protesters, engaged in aggressive and derogatory behavior towards the consulate members. Witnesses reported that the assailants verbally assaulted the victims with derogatory statements before escalating to physical violence, including pushing, punching, kicking, and throwing water.
The victims, who were forced to flee to safety, are part of the ongoing complex Turkish-Armenian relations, marked by historical hostility. The organizers of the Armenian event aimed to spotlight the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that has been a focal point of conflict between the two communities.
In response to the attack, the LAPD has released photographs of the four suspects involved in the hope that members of the public can help in identifying them. The police are treating the incident as a hate crime, given the targeted nature of the attack and the background of Turkish-Armenian relations.
The LAPD urges anyone with information about the suspects or the incident to contact Major Crimes Detectives Torres or Allen at 213-486-6270 during office hours. After hours and on weekends, the public can reach out to the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247. For those who wish to provide information anonymously, they can contact L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through their website.
This call for public assistance underscores the LAPD’s commitment to addressing hate crimes and ensuring the safety of diplomatic personnel in Los Angeles. The department hopes that with community cooperation, they can swiftly bring those responsible to justice and prevent future incidents of this nature.
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate
