TURKEY helped refugees reach Europe today by arranging buses and boats for them in an act of revenge against the European Union following the death of 33 Turkish soldiers in Syria.

Omer Celik, a spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party, said Turkey was “no longer able to hold refugees” following the Syrian attack.

Mr Erdogan had previously claimed that his country could not cope with the arrival of any more people fleeing the conflict in Syria – which Turkey itself is involved in.