Fighting erupts in Turkish Parliament: 5 legislators hurt

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkish lawmakers and media reports say five legislators were hurt in a brawl that broke out in Parliament, during which chairs allegedly were hurled and lawmakers were attacked with the speaker’s gavel and bell.

The state-run Anadolu Agency said the fighting erupted early Wednesday as opposition legislators attempted to delay the start of a debate on a contentious security bill that would give police greater search and arrest powers. The fighting took place during a closed-door session after opposition parties submitted several unrelated motions in their bid to obstruct the bill.

Ertugrul Kurkcu of the pro-Kurdish party said stenographers’ chairs were thrown and two legislators were hit with the gavel and bell.

Two of the legislators were hospitalized while Kurkcu and two others were treated at Parliament’s infirmary.