Two siblings injured during brawl between locals, Syrian family

ADANA – Doğan News Agency

Two Syrian siblings were injured during a brawl between a Syrian family and locals on Aug. 30 in the southern province of Adana.

Tensions rose due to unknown reason between the group of locals and the Syrian family in the early hours of Aug. 29 in Adana’s Seyhan district.

The tension was defused by the locals of the Hanedan neighborhood in a short time. 

However, a brawl erupted at 10 p.m. between the Syrian family and the group of locals. Around 100 locals attacked the Syrian family’s home.

Syrian Mohammed Melehafcı, 37, and his brother Mahmoud Melehafcı, 34, were beaten up by the angry crowd. 

Numbers of police officers were dispatched to the scene after being informed by locals, however, the police had difficulty dispersing the crowd.

Special operation forces were also dispatched to the scene and the crowd was dispersed with tear gas.

The two Syrian siblings were rushed to the Adana State Hospital. Hospital officials stated that the wounded Syrians were not in critical condition.

The police have started an investigation into the incident.

On May 21, a similar incident had occurred in the Adana province.

Police intervened against a group of locals who had gathered in Adana to demand the removal of Syrian refugees from their neighborhood.

Locals from Adana’s Yüreğir district gathered in the Doğankent neighborhood to demand the removal of refugees’ tents, lighting tires on fire and closing the streets with barricades. 

Anti-terrorism police who were dispatched to the scene as reinforcement, succeeded in dispersing the group with tear gas.