Disturbing video footage has surfaced showing British tourists, including women, being violently attacked by bouncers at a restaurant in Turkey following a disagreement over the bill.
Video shows the group being kicked and punched by male employees of Mad Boys eatery on a street in Marmaris, Turkey on June 2.
The clip begins with a heated verbal exchange, but the situation soon escalates into a violent brawl.
Two of the tourists are knocked to the ground, where the attack continues, as restaurant staff members relentlessly kick them while they’re down on the pavement. One staff member even jumps out of a window to join the fray.
A bold young boy from the tourist group is seen confronting an employee, engaging in shadow boxing as he readies himself to fight back. Meanwhile, bystanders can be heard screaming amidst the unfolding chaos.
Police were called to the scene, but since neither party filed a complaint at the time, the matter was temporarily closed.
But once footage of the fight was posted online, it triggered outrage and public backlash.
British tourists were brutally beaten by restaurant staff after an argument broke out about the bill
Five employees identified as involved in the brawl were detained, and the venue was closed indefinitely
The video shows five employees assaulting a male tourist while two female tourists attempt to separate them.
But the women get caught in the middle and are battered while on the ground.
The footage, which garnered widespread criticism, prompted an investigation.
Five members of staff found to be involved in the brawl were detained, and the restaurant was closed indefinitely.
Speaking to Turkish newspaper AKŞAM, a manager at Mad Boys restaurant stated that a family of five had caused an argument by not paying the 5,000 TL bill (£92).
He claimed that the tourists provoked the staff by insulting Turks and the Turkish flag, and then attacked them.
Footage of a female tourist hitting a staff member with her bag was also shared.
Shocking footage shows the group, including women, being kicked and punched by employees on a street in Marmaris, Turkey
A young boy is also seen squaring up to one of the restaurant employees as he readies himself to fight by punching the air
The Marmaris District Governor’s Office issued a statement on the matter, stating: ‘It should be known that violence against women is completely unacceptable in Muğla.
‘Our state stands firmly against all forms of violence against women.
‘Judicial and administrative investigations into the business and its employees are being meticulously conducted, and all developments are being closely monitored.’
It comes after a tourist was beaten up by a member of staff at a Turkish beach after he reportedly complained about the price of a sunbed in May.
The brawl broke out on May 16 at Damlatas Beach in the Alanya district of Antalya after the tourist, who was described as British by Turkish media, enquired about renting a sun lounger but decided to opt out after finding it too costly.
Instead, the tourist is said have dumped his belongings on the sand so he could go for a dip in the sea.
An employee told the tourist to take his stuff elsewhere, but events escalated after the tourist refused, which resulted in the the staff member reportedly beating him up in front of other holidaymakers.
Footage shows the employee attacking a man, who can be seen falling onto the sand as he is punched and kicked.
Onlookers can be seen screaming in horror, while others move away from the brawl.
Two men are seen breaking up the fight before the video comes to an end.
The clip has since gone viral on social media, prompting backlash from the public.
Alanya District Governor Fatih Ürkmezer announced that the business involved had been closed.
‘Judicial and administrative procedures regarding the attack on a tourist that occurred in a beach business in Alanya in recent days, which does not reflect our city and our understanding of tourism , have been initiated immediately,’ he said.
‘Approaches that are contrary to the understanding of hospitality of both our city and our country will not be tolerated in Alanya, one of the cities where tourism first began in Turkey,’ the district governor added.
Business owner Serhan Koçaroğlu responded to the incident, claiming that the tourist was ‘under the influence of alcohol,’ adding that he had thrown a sunbed at a Turkish customer.
When Koçaroğlu tried to intervene, he said he was attacked by the tourist in question
He added that the videos circulating online only showed the aftermath of the incident, saying that the brawl was a reaction to him being beaten.
The business owner added that he was sorry for giving Alanya a negative image.
‘I did not file a complaint in order not to damage the tourism image of Alanya. However, I would like to inform the public that I reserve all my legal rights due to the unfounded news published in some media outlets,’ he said.
