Three Syrians trying cross the border into Turkey have been killed by Turkish border guards, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported.
At least seven others were also injured by the troops near the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad in al-Raqqa province on Friday, Rami Abdelrahman, the Syrian Observatory's head, told Al Jazeera.
Two of those killed were reportedly women.
The Syrian Observatory is a UK-based monitoring group that relies on activists on the ground for information.
Abdelrahman said that witnesses had told him that border guards urged the Syrians to "back off and return" before opening fire on them at close range.
He said that Friday's deaths were the latest in a wave of lethal shootings by Turkish troops of Syrians attempting to flee their country's conflict over the last three months.
"Since May 30, at least 29 Syrian civilians have been killed by Turkish border guards," he said.
Turkey, which has registered about two million Syrian refugees since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, continues to see large numbers of Syrians seeking refuge in the country.
Ankara has repeatedly called on the international community to help it deal with the refugee crisis.
The reports of the killings by Turkish border guards came as Ankara stepped up its border security amid an ongoing military offensive against fighters from the outlawed Kurdistan's Workers Party (PKK) in Iraq.
[With reporting by Ryan Rifai.]
Source: Al Jazeera
15/8/15
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At least seven others were also injured by the troops near the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad in al-Raqqa province on Friday, Rami Abdelrahman, the Syrian Observatory's head, told Al Jazeera.
Two of those killed were reportedly women.
The Syrian Observatory is a UK-based monitoring group that relies on activists on the ground for information.
Abdelrahman said that witnesses had told him that border guards urged the Syrians to "back off and return" before opening fire on them at close range.
He said that Friday's deaths were the latest in a wave of lethal shootings by Turkish troops of Syrians attempting to flee their country's conflict over the last three months.
"Since May 30, at least 29 Syrian civilians have been killed by Turkish border guards," he said.
- The Turkish foreign ministry, which was contacted by Al Jazeera on Friday for comment, said it was preparing a response.
Turkey, which has registered about two million Syrian refugees since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, continues to see large numbers of Syrians seeking refuge in the country.
Ankara has repeatedly called on the international community to help it deal with the refugee crisis.
The reports of the killings by Turkish border guards came as Ankara stepped up its border security amid an ongoing military offensive against fighters from the outlawed Kurdistan's Workers Party (PKK) in Iraq.
[With reporting by Ryan Rifai.]
Source: Al Jazeera
15/8/15
-
Rami Abdelrahman, the SOHR head, told Doha-based Al Jazeera broadcaster that the incident had taken place on Friday near the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad in Al-Raqqah province...
ReplyDeleteHe added that these killings had been the latest in a wave of lethal shootings conducted by Turkish board guards.
"Since May 30, at least 29 Syrian civilians have been killed by Turkish border guards," he told the broadcaster.......... http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150815/1025784834.html#ixzz3itsfCHTn
15/8/15
Turkey denies border guards shot Syrian civilians...
ReplyDeleteA senior Turkish official has denied reports that three Syrians who were trying to cross the border into Turkey were killed by Turkish border guards.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three Syrians had been killed by the guards while trying to enter the country on Friday.
"Turkish military have no records of such an incident at the country's border with Syria," the official, who asked to remain anonymous, told Al Jazeera on Saturday.
"All incidents that happen at the border are recorded by the army."...............http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/turkey-border-guards-accused-shooting-syrians-150814183613359.html
15/8/15