House used by Syrians torched ‘by locals’ in Istanbul

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

DHA photo

A building used by Syrians in Istanbul’s Başakşehir district was set ablaze late May 9, allegedly by locals who had quarreled with the Syrians earlier in the day.

A quarrel, of unknown cause, had broken out between the locals of the Güvercintepe neighborhood and the Syrians using the house on May 9. Later that day, a fire broke out at the two-story building on Ahmet Yesevi Street where the Syrians were living, allegedly caused by the locals whom the Syrians had quarreled with.
 
A fire engine and firemen were blocked from approaching the blaze by a group of locals, who threw stones to prevent the fire from being extinguished. 

The group later allowed the fire engine to enter the street after other locals living on the street intervened in the situation.

The ground-floor store of the building was damaged by the fire, while no injuries were reported.