Syrian activist survives ISIL assassination attempt in Turkey

ISTANBUL - Associated Press

Colleagues say a Syrian independent media activist working in southeast Turkey has survived an assassination attempt claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

Ahmed Abdelqader, founder of the Syrian media group Eye on Homeland, was shot on June 12 by two gunmen riding a motorbike in the southeastern Şanlıurfa province.

Fellow Syrian activist Abu Ibrahim of the monitoring group Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) says Abdelqader is now "hospitalized, in a stable condition."

Another colleague, who requested anonymous for fear of his safety, said the gunmen had used silencers. The gunmen escaped.

The ISIL-linked Amaq News Agency said ISIL militants had staged the attack on Abdelqader, formerly a member of RBSS.

Abdelqader's brother, Ibrahim, was one of two Syrian activists slain by ISIL operatives in Şanlıurfa in October 2015.