Clashes between refugees and police along the Turkish-Greek land border
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Refugees and Greek border officials face each other on opposite sides of the border at the closed-off Turkish-Greek border, Edirne, Turkey, 29 February 2020.
Greek police fired teargas towards migrants gathered on its border with Turkey on Saturday, as a crisis over Syria shifted onto the European Union’s doorstep.
“The government will do whatever it takes to protect its borders,” Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters.
Greek police in riot gear face refugees at the Turkish side of the border at the closed-off Turkish-Greek border, Edirne, Turkey, 29 February 2020. EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN
Ankara said on Thursday it will no longer contain hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers after an air strike on war-ravaged Idlib in Syria killed 33 Turkish soldiers.
Almost immediately, convoys of people appeared heading towards the Greek land and sea borders.
A large number of refugees gather at the Turkish side of the closed-off Turkish-Greek border, Edirne, Turkey. EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN
The Turkish government announced its decision to no longer stop refugees from reaching Europe after 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in Idlib, Syria on 27 February.
