Three US sailors have been accosted by protesters in Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul.

The incident occurred during a demonstration by the ultranationalist Turkish Youth Union (TGB) in Istanbul’s Eminonu neighborhood, objecting to the docking of a US Navy destroyer following a NATO drill in the Black Sea.

A group of TGB activists attempted to put sacks over the heads of three sailors. The symbolism was of a 2003 episode when 11 Turkish soldiers were captured by US forces in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah and had black hoods placed over their heads.

Voices shouting “Damn America!” could be heard loudly. Before the attempt to put sacks on the heads of the sailors, one protester spoke to the camera: “You declared that you are a member of the US military. Because we define you as murderers, as killers, we want you to get out of our land.”

Turkish security forces dispersed the protest and arrested 12 TGB members.

The US Embassy issued a statement, “We condemn today’s attack in Istanbul, and have no doubt the vast majority of Turks would join us in rejecting an action that so disrespects Turkey’s reputation for hospitality.”