A dozen other people were injured as a result of the incident but remain in good condition, the official said, adding that none of the injured were children. According to a statement released by the governor’s office on Sunday, Turkish forces first asked the vehicle to stop. When it continued to move, security forces opened fire in an attempt to stop the vehicle. Once stopped, Turkish personnel determined the vehicle was being used for migrant smuggling and found “40 irregular migrants” in it, according to the statement. Although forces targeted the wheels of the vehicle, one person was killed by a bullet that fell from the ground, the statement said. “Efforts are ongoing to arrest the driver of the vehicle and the migrant smuggler who managed to flee after the incident. A judicial and administrative investigation is underway,” the statement added. Kemal Tosun, who witnessed the incident, told Serbest TV in Turkey that some of the occupants of the vehicle managed to “escape”. Another eyewitness, Didar Tosun, said he saw families with children among the migrants. Authorities have not confirmed the nationalities of the people in the vehicle. Van province is located near Turkey’s border with Iran and serves as a transit route for migrants originating from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and central Asia.
