THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — A migrant was killed by gunfire on the Greece-Turkey border whereas she and a number of other others tried to cross a river separating the 2 international locations, Greek police mentioned Sunday.
It wasn’t instantly clear who fired the shot that killed the lady on Saturday evening.
Greek police have been patrolling the world the place the Evros River, which is known as Meric in Turkish, narrows to about 60 to 70 meters (round 200 ft) extensive and thru which many migrants try and cross, in keeping with a police assertion and extra info offered to The Related Press by a police officer on situation of anonymity. The officers noticed quite a few migrants on the Turkish facet shortly earlier than 9 p.m.
Police mentioned 11 individuals launched into an inflatable dinghy, and officers directed flashlights on the boat and began shouting “Police. Return.” In response, mentioned the police officer, a “barrage” of pictures erupted from the Turkish facet. The Greek police patrol could not detect the supply of the pictures within the darkness and fell to the bottom to guard themselves, taking pictures warning pictures within the air, in keeping with the assertion which the officer corroborated.
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The dinghy got here near the Greek shore and 5 individuals disembarked — 4 made it to the shore however a fifth particular person was floating within the water. Police reached the physique with some issue, in keeping with the assertion, and once they pulled it to the shore they decided that it belonged to a lady and that she was lifeless.
Police questioned the 4 survivors — three Pakistani males, one a minor (17 years previous) and a lady from Eritrea. There have been conflicting reviews in regards to the lifeless lady’s nationality, however they agree she was African. It wasn’t recognized what occurred to the opposite six individuals who tried to cross, however authorities do not imagine they entered Greece.
The coroner analyzing the lady’s physique within the northeastern metropolis of Alexandroupolis made a preliminary report that she died of a bullet wound to the again, with the shot coming from a really brief distance and from a small-caliber weapon. The police officer mentioned that Greek police do not use such weapons.
The coroner’s remaining report hadn’t been issued as of Sunday afternoon.
Demetris Nellas reported from Athens, Greece.
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