Two US Marines attacked by nationalist mob in Turkey; motive unknown

Two U.S. Marines are safe after they were attacked in Turkey on Monday, U.S. authorities said. The attack was captured on video, showing a man putting a type of sack over the head of one of the soldiers.

The Marines, whose unit routinely deploys with the U.S. Navy's Wasp Amphibious Readiness Group, were in the port city of Izmir when the attack occurred Monday afternoon, Navy Commander Timothy Gorman said in a statement.

The local governor's office said in a statement that 15 attackers – including members of a youth organization of a nationalist opposition party – had been arrested, Reuters reported.

It is not clear what sparked the attack. A short video of the incident, confirmed by NBC News, shows a group of people chanting in a commercial area and holding down a man before one of them puts the bag over the man's head.

Moments later, another man is seen attacking the group. None of the soldiers are wearing a uniform.

Other Marines intervened and no one was injured, the Navy statement said. The soldiers later returned to their ship, the USS Wasp.

In a statement, the US Embassy in Turkey thanked authorities for their quick response and the ongoing investigation. The soldiers are safe and no Marines have been arrested, the embassy said.

Those involved are cooperating with local investigations, the Navy statement said.