Mohammed Hamid, 13, a Syrian Kurd who was burnt during an attack by a Turkish jet, according to witnesses

Concerns have been raised over Britain’s sales of phosphorus products to Turkey, amid evidence the incendiary chemical has been used against Kurds in northeast Syria.

Ministers have issued more than 70 export licenses for military products that can contain phosphorus to Ankara in the past two decades, The Times understands.

A leading British chemicals expert last night said that samples, collected from the scene of suspected chemical attacks and from the burns of victims, could be analysed to identify the country of origin of any white phosphorus found.

Military items sold by Britain to Ankara include smoke and pyrotechnic ammunition, decoy and countermeasure equipment and signalling devices and illuminators. While white phosphorus is not a banned chemical, it must be used in compliance with