A video, obtained by Greek Reporter, appears to show Turkish police on Wednesday morning firing teargas at the Greek border on the Evros river near the village of Kastanies.
In the video, members of the Turkish police are seen firing at least four teargas rounds as new clashes broke out between migrants and Greek security forces.
It is not yet confirmed whether the chemicals were directed against Greek forces on the other side of the border or migrants who have converged on the Turkish side in an attempt to cross into Greece and Europe.
Turkish police fire tear gas at Greek border
The footage obtained by Greek Reporter shows members of the Turkish security forces firing tear gas towards the border with Greece on Wednesday morning. It is not yet confirmed whether the chemicals were directed against Greek forces on the other side of the border or migrants who have converged on the Turkish side.
Posted by Greek Reporter on Wednesday, March 4, 2020
The clashes were near the border village of Kastanies, along a boundary fence that covers much of the land border not demarcated by the Evros river running along the frontier.
Clashes have been ongoing since Ankara’s announcement late last week that it would no longer stop Syrian refugees from trying to reach European soil.
Turkey made good on its threat to open its borders and send migrants into Europe last week. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s action triggered days of violent clashes and scenes of chaos at the land border, where thousands of migrants and refugees have gathered.
Wednesday’s clashes came one day after European Union officials promised more cash for Greece during a visit to the country’s land border with Turkey. The officials also called upon Turkey to abide by a 2016 deal which requires it to keep the migrants on its territory in return for a large European Union monetary payout.