US Sailors Attacked by Nationalist Youth in Turkey

Three U.S. sailors were assaulted Wednesday during a port visit in Istanbul.

A group of Turkish protesters surrounded the servicemen shouting "killers, and "Yankee, go home."
    
The servicemen, who wore civilian clothing, were from the USS Ross, a guided missle destroyer docked nearby.
    
The protesters are believed to be part of the Turkish Nationalist Youth Association.

The crowd tried to put bags over the sailors heads, shoved them and sprayed them with red paint to represent blood.
    
The sailors were able to escape serious injury and run back to their ship.
    
Turkish police reportedly have a least a dozen suspects in custody.

The secretary of the U.S. Navy called the assault reprehensible, but the Navy was quick to say that the incident will not affect the U.S. relationship with Turkey,which has been strained by the war in nearby Syria.  Turkey is a U.S. NATO ally.

Officials are looking at security procedures for future port calls, and working with Turkish authorities.