Turkey foils alleged attacks on Syrian refugees

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish official says authorities have detained six people suspected of plotting attacks against Syrian refugee camps near the Syrian border.

Celalettin Lekesiz, the governor for border province of Hatay, said Wednesday the suspects were allegedly planning to bomb camps and kidnap refugees. Some 200,000 Syrian refugees are registered in Turkey.

Authorities have tightened safety measures in Hatay following a May 11 twin car bombings in the town of Reyhanli that killed 51 people and raised fears that Turkey was being dragged into the Syrian conflict. The government has blamed Syria’s government for involvement in the attack, a charge they deny.

Officials also said Wednesday that Turkey closed down for a month a border gate opposite an area still controlled by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime to upgrade its security.