Turkish security forces fired on a minibus carrying migrants in the east of the country, killing a four-year-old Afghan boy. The child was hit in the heart during the shelling, the chairman of a human rights organization told the German news agency on Monday, based on eyewitnesses. Twelve people were injured, including the mother.
The county governor’s office confirmed without stating age or nationality that “one migrant” was killed and 12 others injured. The gendarmerie fired at the tires of a suspicious vehicle after the driver disobeyed the order to stop immediately. Migrants were hit by ricochets.
“Intensely fired”
IHD chairman Mehmet Karatas, on the other hand, said two gendarmes fired “intense” shots at the vehicle, even though it ran into a dead end. The windows of the car were shattered. That was a “dereliction of duty and a violation of the right to life,” he criticized. Migrants, including women and children, fled into a barn and into the mountains as the gendarmes kept firing at their feet. Karatas called for an independent investigation.
According to the governor’s office, 40 illegal migrants were in the vehicle. The driver and a suspected smuggler fled. The reports cannot be independently verified.
Westward via Iran in Turkey
The Turkish province of Van borders Iran. From there, migrants continue to come to Turkey, especially from Afghanistan. Many are drawn to the west, for example to the metropolis of Istanbul to find work there or further to Europe. Smugglers transport undocumented migrants in minivans from eastern provinces to western Turkey in an attempt to evade checkpoints.
According to official figures, there are currently more than 3.7 million refugees from Syria living in Turkey, plus an estimated half a million Afghans. In view of the worsening economic crisis, sentiment against Syrians and Afghans has intensified recently.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
