Turkey says Greece firing live ammunition at border; Greece denies

4 years ago

Greek security forces watch a demonstration organized by Women Asylum Seekers, waiting at Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing to reach Europe, at the buffer zone demanding to open the gate during 'International Women's Day', on March 08, 2020 in Turkey's Edirne. [Elif Öztürk - Anadolu Agency]

Turkey released video on Saturday of what it said was a Greek soldier firing live ammunition at migrants trying to cross from Turkey. Athens denied its forces had used live bullets, Reuters reports.

The video showed migrants trying to cross over a fence and a soldier shooting at them from the other side.

A Turkish official said the footage was filmed on Saturday near the Pazarkule border crossing from western Turkey to Greece and showed a Greek soldier firing live ammunition.

Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the video.

READ: Asylum seekers, refugees cross into Greece despite obstacles

Turkey said on Feb. 28 that it would not stop migrants crossing its borders into Europe, saying it could no longer contain the millions it already hosts and the prospect of a fresh influx from fighting in northwest Syria.

Since then, teargas and smoke bombs have been fired across Turkey’s border with Greece daily as migrants seek access to European Union territory.

Posting the video on Twitter, Turkey’s Deputy Interior Minister Ismail Catakli said: “We are seeing European civilisation at our border with Greece.”

Commenting on the video, a Greek government official told Reuters that Greek forces at the border use blanks, not live rounds.

Women Asylum Seekers, waiting at Turkey’s Pazarkule border crossing to reach Europe, stage a demonstration at the buffer zone demanding to open the gate during ‘International Women’s Day’, on March 08, 2020 in Turkey’s Edirne. [Elif Öztürk – Anadolu Agency]

Syrian refugees huddle around a fire to keep warm after Greek authorities stripped them of their clothes and tortured them, 6 March 2020 [Twitter]

Asylum seekers move towards the border near Tundzha river to enter Greece in Turkey’s Edirne on 5 March 2020 [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency]

Asylum seekers, including Afghans [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency]

Asylum seekers are seen at Edirne Ulus Bazaar near Tundzha river, where they were stay up their night to avoid from the rain on 5 March, 2020 [Şebnem Coşkun/Anadolu Agency]