MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the Japanese NHK broadcaster, some 600 Turkish citizens both of Turkish and Kurdish origin came to the embassy to participate in the snap parliamentary elections.
Brawl between Turks and Kurds outside turkish embassy in Tokyo this morning. pic.twitter.com/3uapgsq6eV
— Tom Wilson (@tomwilson1983) 25 октября 2015
Soon after the clashes broke out, Japanese police arrived at the accident site and took actions to reconcile the rival groups.
The Kurds are Turkey's largest ethnic minority, comprising up to a quarter of the population. The Kurdish struggle for independence gave rise to a conflict between Turkey and various Kurdish militant groups that has been ongoing since 1984.
Tensions between two ethnic groups escalated again in mid-summer when Ankara launched a military campaign against the Kurdistan Workers' Party in northern Iraq, after that group claimed responsibility for the murders of two Turkish police officers.
Election related skirmish at Turkish embassy in Tokyo. Kurds told the reporter they were attacked by Turks pic.twitter.com/wqkt9l0m9d
— netto sayoku (@Agnakagos) 25 октября 2015
Brawl outside Turkish embassy as Turks and Kurds wait to vote in parliamentary elections pic.twitter.com/xbKH2lp3PD
— Tom Wilson (@tomwilson1983) 25 октября 2015