Greek police randomly fire at asylum seekers at border

EDIRNE, Turkey

Greek police have not refrained from randomly shooting at asylum seekers swarmed at the Greece-Turkey border, regardless of the fact that residential areas are in close proximity.

The asylum seekers -- who wait at the border line to cross to Europe through Turkey’s northwestern Edirne province bordering Greece -- are being encountered by the harsh treatment of the Greek police who tear-gas and also fire live ammunition on them.

While there has been loss of lives, many have been wounded due to the continuous attacks by Greek security forces.

Police often open fire towards residential areas, located some 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away from the border gate.

Greek police, video footages show, have targeted asylum seekers with machine guns. Hand movement of a Greek soldier implying “I will kill you” was also captured by the cameras.

Turkey has been a key transit point for hundreds of thousands of irregular migrants aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

Late February, Turkey announced it would no longer stop asylum seekers from reaching Europe. Boat crossings, however, it added, would not be allowed as they are too dangerous.

The decision was taken after the martyrdom of 34 Turkish soldiers in Idlib, Syria.

The number of asylum seekers leaving Turkey since it opened border gates in Edirne province was over 142,000 as of March 6.

Turkey, which already hosts nearly four million Syrians, more than any other country in the world, has said it is unable to absorb yet another refugee wave.

* Contribution and writing by Sena Guler in Ankara