Activists say 8 Syrians killed trying to cross into Turkey

The National Coalition umbrella opposition group – based in Istanbul and backed by Turkey – reported a higher toll of 11 killed in the “terrible tragedy”.

A video reportedly taken in the aftermath of the shootings on Sunday, which was posted online by Syrian lawyers and rights groups, shows a mother cradling her baby, who appeared to have a bullet wound.

The official was quoted as saying: “The Commission expressed its concern to the Turkish authorities, as those refugees had initially been selected by the Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management on the basis of their vulnerability”.

British violence monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights released a statement Sunday, accusing Turkey of killing families “indiscriminately” as they were trying to cross the border.

For its part, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the allegations and described the reports on this matter as “wrong and not a reflection of the truth”.

At least 23 DAESH members were killed Sunday in northern Syria in a Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and USA -led coalition operation, security sources said.

“After warning shots, a group of seven to eight people ran towards the woods”.

Turkey hosts more Syrian refugees – 2.7 million – than the rest of the world combined, and more refugees – around 3 million – than any other country. Border patrols have intensified after EU-Turkey refugee agreement signed earlier this year. In exchange, Turkey agreed to take back all irregular refugees from Greece while allowing up to a certain number of asylum seekers to travel to the European Union legally.

The Local Coordination Committees, an activist network, said at least one of those trying to cross was from Jarablus, a northern Syrian town under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Jisr al-Shoughour has become a key smuggling route since Turkey closed its borders to Syrian refugees this year.

Human rights organisations have questioned the EU’s assurances that Turkey is a “safe country” for refugees.