Boris Johnson’s convoy was targeted by Kurdish protesters as the prime minister left the Palace of Westminster:
Kurdish man arrested after throwing himself in front of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's car causing the Prime Minister's car to crash into police motor bike! He was protesting against Turkey's invasion of South Kurdistan. He is from South Kurdistan. FLASH NEWS. @ReutersUK @AP pic.twitter.com/3X0CDUZooc
— @Hevallo (@Hevallo) June 17, 2020
The demonstrator, who had been protesting about Turkish action against Kurdish rebels, ran into the road outside the gates to Parliament. In recent days, Turkey has bombed the Makhmour refugee camp in Syria (South Kurdistan) and attacked protesters from the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) in Turkey:
Last night #Turkey was bombing #Makhmour, #Qandil and #Shengal in South #Kurdistan. Now they are violently repressing the democratic march against the coup d'état in #Bakur, Northern Kurdistan. There is no doubt about the fascism of the Turkish state. Let's fight it. pic.twitter.com/k0bMO22oTT
— Kongra Star Women's Movement Rojava (@starrcongress) June 15, 2020
These recent events are just the latest in a long line of repressive actions taken by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan against majority Kurdish communities in Turkey and Syria. In May, women’s organisations were targeted in Bakur (the majority-Kurdish area of NATO member Turkey) resulting in arrests and raids.
The protest in London forced the lead vehicles in the convoy – a police motorbike and the prime minister’s Jaguar – to stop, with a support vehicle running into the back of the luxury saloon carrying Johnson.
The vehicles drove off shortly afterwards in the direction of Downing Street, with a large dent visible on the rear of the Jaguar.
Downing Street said there were no reports of anyone being injured in the incident.
The protester was detained by police and taken into the Palace of Westminster by officers.
