Xenophobia flares up as Syrian homes attacked this time in Aegean İzmir

Duvar English

In less than two months after the attack on Syrian homes in Ankara's Altındağ district, refugees became the target of another attack, this time in the Aegean province of İzmir's Torbalı district.

About 150 locals on Sept. 29 came to the Barış Yapı residential complex that mostly accommodates Syrian refugees, Mezopotamya news agency reported. The mob set fire to a house belonging to Syrians and stoned other houses in the complex. They also set fire to vehicles used by Syrians to collect scrap and waste.

Upon notice, fire teams came to the area and extinguished the places on fire at the residential complex.

The incident later saw the intervention of the police and dispersion of the mob. Police teams were said to have secured the area.

The attack came after the 17-year-old Batuhan Barlak was killed in a brawl between the Syrians and locals on Sept. 29 evening in the district. 

This is the second mass attack targeting Syrians in less than two months.

Hundreds of people attacked Syrians' homes and businesses in Ankara's Altındağ district on Aug. 11, as they chanted anti-Syrian and Islamist slogans. Many Syrians fled their homes over security concerns after the attack that left one child wounded. 

Anti-refugee sentiment has been running high in Turkey, which houses nearly four million Syrian refugees, most recently flaring up with the arrival of thousands of Afghans.

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