March 31, 2015 8:06 AM EDT
T he photojournalist who captured a striking image of a 4-year-old Syrian refugee holding her hands in the air to surrender has confirmed that the viral image was not staged, and that the expression of fear on the girl’s face is all too real.
The image was retweeted more than 11,000 times, according to BBC News, which tracked down the original photographer after questions surfaced about its authenticity.
Osman Sağırlı, a Turkish photojournalist, told the BBC that he was photographing child refugees in the Atmeh refugee camp in Syria last year when the 4-year-old girl in the picture apparently mistook his camera lens for a weapon.
“I realised she was terrified after I took it,” Sağırlı told the BBC, “and looked at the picture, because she bit her lips and raised her hands.”
“Normally kids run away, hide their faces or smile when they see a camera,” he said.
Read more at BBC News.
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Syria in 1940: Crossroads of the Middle East During WWII A view of Damascus, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Raising the French flag at Aleppo, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Women carry water containers on their heads as they lead mules along a road in a desert village near Damascus, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Members of the Bedouin "camel cavalry" near Damascus, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Street scene, Damascus, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images View of the downtown area of Aleppo from atop the ramparts of the great citadel built in the 4th century B.C. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images View from above Aleppo, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Soldiers urge a mule up the steps of the citadel at Aleppo, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Scene in Aleppo, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Inside the garrison of the French expeditionary force in the great citadel at Aleppo, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Street scene, Aleppo, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images A narrow street in downtown Aleppo, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images A Moroccan soldier of the French expeditionary force holds an officer's Arabian horse inside the great citadel at Aleppo, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Engineers relax on the grounds of the great citadel, Aleppo, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images French Foreign Legion soldiers at their outpost at Homs, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images French Foreign Legion soldiers gather around newly erected tents as they set up their outpost near Homs, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images South of Homs, men of the Tunisian infantry prepare to eat. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Archaeological ruins with modern homes in background, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images A family walks past the walled town and beehive-shaped homes of Tell Bisse, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images View of the walled town of Tell Bisse, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Syrian children outside the walled town of Tell Bisse, Syria, 1940. Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images LIFE magazine, May 20, 1940. LIFE Magazine LIFE magazine, May 20, 1940. LIFE Magazine LIFE magazine, May 20, 1940. LIFE Magazine LIFE magazine, May 20, 1940. LIFE Magazine Listen to the most important stories of the day.
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