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pics of the year

The 27 photographs that took our breath away in 2016

From Dublin’s gangland shootings to Syria, from Brexit to the migrant crisis, here are the best photos of this year.

THIS YEAR HAS been a tumultuous one for news.

From Nice to Syria, from Trump to Brexit, from the migrant crisis to the general election, 2016 was a year of upheaval across the world.

Here, in no particular order, are the most striking images from this year.

Note: be aware that some of these photographs contain graphic depictions of violence.

Global Warming Mediterranean AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Two men look out from a swimming pool at a wildfire burning nearby in Benitachel, Spain in October. 

Campaign 2016 Trump Evan Vucci / PA Evan Vucci / PA / PA

Donald Trump speaks to an overflow crowd during a campaign rally in North Carolina in September. 

Robbie Brady celebrates with his girlfriend Kerrie Harris and his brother Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Robbie Brady celebrates after scoring for Ireland in the crucial match against Italy at Euro 2016 in June. 

YE 2016 Europe & Africa News Photo Gallery Emilio Morenatti / AP Emilio Morenatti / AP / AP

Migrants, most of whom are from Eritrea, jump into the water as they are rescued from a crowded boat off the coast of Libya in August. 

Turkey Russian Ambasador PA PA

The gunman gestures after shooting dead Andrei Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, at a photo gallery in December. 

2016 AP Year End Photos Felipe Dana / AP Felipe Dana / AP / AP

A car bomb explodes next to an Iraqi special forces armored vehicle as they advance towards Islamic State-controlled territory in Mosul in November. 

2016 AP Year End Photos Daniel Ochoa de Olza / AP Daniel Ochoa de Olza / AP / AP

A woman looks at a participant in the Pride parade in Madrid in July. 

19/2/2016 Gangland Funerals

The remains of Eddie Hutch are brought into Our Lady of Lourdes church in Dublin city centre. Hutch, a taxi driver who was the brother of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, was shot dead at his home in February. 

Autumn weather Sept 28th 2016 PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

The Northern Lights appear in the sky over a lighthouse in Northumberland, England in September. 

Indonesia Illegal Fishing M. Urip / PA M. Urip / PA / PA

Debris flies into the air as foreign fishing boats are blown up by the Indonesian Navy in February. 

Fakenham Races Nigel French / PA Wire Nigel French / PA Wire / PA Wire

Two horses and jockeys collide during a race at Fakenham racecourse in February. 

Pictures Of The Week Photo Gallery AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

A police officer stops a driver in Dallas in July after five police officers were shot and killed in the US city. 

2016 Election Obama Susan Walsh / AP Susan Walsh / AP / AP

White House staff listen as Barack Obama talks about Donald Trump’s victory in the US election. 

Mideast Syria AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Syrian doctors try to save the life of a boy shot by a sniper at a hospital in Aleppo in October. 

Yana Alexseevna is declared the winner Ilyas Gun / INPHO Ilyas Gun / INPHO / INPHO

Katie Taylor reacts at losing to Yana Alexseevna in an Olympic qualification event in Turkey in April. 

Greece Migrants AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

A migrant child can be seen through a plastic tent in a makeshift camp in the Greek town of Idomeni in March. 

Somme 100th anniversary PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Young people lay wreaths during a service to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the battle of the Somme in July. 

Oil rig detachment PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

A drilling rig is seen at the Isle of Lewis off the coast of Scotland after it ran aground in August.

France Migrants Emilio Morenatti / AP Emilio Morenatti / AP / AP

Demonstrators throw back teargas canisters to French riot police officers during clashes at The Jungle in Calais on 22 October.

Mideast Iran Urmia Lake Ebrahim Noroozi / AP Ebrahim Noroozi / AP / AP

Iranians lie beside Urmia Lake with their bodies covered in salt in August. 

2016 AP Year End Photos AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Embers from a wildfire smolder alongside a major road in California in August. 

Hillsborough Inquest PA Archive / PA Images PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images

St George’s Hall in Liverpool shows its support for the families of the Hillsborough victims and survivors in April. 

river AP AP

Omran, a 4-year-old Syrian boy, sits in an ambulance after being rescued from the rubble of a building in Aleppo in August. 

Spring weather Apr 26th 2016 PA Archive / PA Images PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images

A rough sea off the north-east coast of England earlier this year. 

EU referendum PA Archive / PA Images PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images

Flowers are left outside a polling station in England after Labour MP Jo Cox was killed on the street just days before the Brexit referendum. 

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - UEFA Champions League - Final - San Siro EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is given the bumps as his side celebrates victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final. 

Campaign 2016 Trump Evan Vucci / AP Evan Vucci / AP / AP

Donald Trump holding two babies during a campaign rally in July. 

Read: The 32 best photographs of 2015

Read: The best photographs of 2014

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