Yusuf Yerkel, one of Erdoğan’s adviser, was then captured delivering an enraged kick at a grounded protester who was being held down by two soldiers. According to witness accounts, the special forces were interrogating the protester after he kicked an official car belonging to the convoy of the prime minister. Yerkel, who saw the scene as he was preparing to take a seat in the car assigned to him, reportedly ran at the protester, kicking him three or four times.

The act has caused fury on social media, with the picture being shared widely and fanning protests on the evening on May 14.

Confirming that he was the one in the picture, Yerkel said he would soon make a public statement regarding the incident.