World War 3 risk as Turkey threatens Russia with ‘serious consequences’

TURKEY has summoned Russia's ambassador following "intensive" bombing of ethnic Turkish people in Syria – amid fears the two powers may clash and spark World War 3.

The Turkish foreign ministry is warning that the Russian attacks targeting civilian Turkmen villages "could lead to serious consequences".

Turkey, a NATO member and the Western alliance's second largest army, has already warned the Kremlin that it will shoot down its warplanes following repeated incursions into its airspace.

Both powers back separate sides in the Syrian civil war, with Turkey bidding to topple embattled dictator Bashar Assad and Moscow is trying to keep him in power.

Already, Russia's air strikes in support of Assad's forces have shifted the balance of power in the conflict.

Should Turkey ever be attacked by Russia, all of NATO are obliged to hit back – including Britain.

In the meeting with the Russian ambassador, Andrei Karlov, Turkey demanded a halt to Russian military operations in Syria near the Turkish border.

"It was stressed that the Russian side's actions were not a fight against terror, but they bombed civilian Turkish villages and this could lead to serious consequences," the foreign ministry said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is already angry about Russia's increasing involvement in the Syrian conflict.