Hundreds of local residents attacked homes and businesses believed to be owned by Syrian migrants in the Turkish capital, Ankara, following reports of a Turkish youth being stabbed to death in a fight involving Syrians.
Local media reported that residents gathered in the Altındağ area of Ankara on Wednesday evening, throwing stones at apartments suspected of housing Syrians and looting stores they believed were owned by Syrians.
Videos circulated on social media showed destroyed vehicles, reflecting a serious escalation of discontent towards migrants in a country that is home to more than four million refugees, 3.6 million of whom are Syrians.
The office of the Ankara governor announced that the situation was brought under control early Thursday morning and urged citizens not to succumb to "provocative" reports.
The death of 18-year-old Emirhan Yalçın during a fight in Altındağ sparked the riots, with local residents accusing Syrians of killing Yalçın, though the reason for the altercation has not been immediately clarified.
Anti-migrant sentiments in the country have intensified in recent weeks following footage showing hundreds of Afghans illegally crossing from Iran into Turkey.
