Blasts kill dozens in Turkish town Reyhanli on Syria border

[pronoob]

 

 

Twin car bombs have killed at least 40 people and injured 100 in the Turkish town of Reyhanli, near the Syrian border.

Interior Minister Muammer Guler told Turkey's NTV the bombs had gone off near the town hall and post office.

Video showed injured people being carried to safety amid shattered buildings and twisted wrecks of cars.

No group has said it had carried out the attack, but a senior Turkish official suggested Syrian involvement.

"Our thoughts are that their Mukhabarat [the Syrian intelligence agency] and armed organisations are the usual suspects in planning and the carrying out of such devilish plans," Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said.

 

Reyhanli is an entry-point for refugees from the war in Syria and local people attacked cars with Syrian number-plates and Syrian refugees after the attack, according to local media.

The Turkish government has been a key supporter of the Syrian opposition, and has allowed rebels as well as refugees on to its territory.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen condemned the bombing in astatement as "despicable" and said the organisation stood by Turkey, a member of the alliance.

'So many'

Hours after the initial blasts, reports came in of a third blast in a residential area but the government said it was the fuel tank of a car exploding and not connected to the attacks.

It appears that the first bombs went off 15 minutes apart and video posted on Turkish media shows people running to help victims of the first when there is the sound of a second explosion.

Emergency services looked for possible victims buried under the debris.

"I was sitting in my pharmacy and suddenly we heard a massive explosion," eyewitness Ismail Akin told Reuters news agency.

"When I looked from my window I saw wounded people and dead bodies."

Another witness, Hayrullah Bal, said: "We were a bit far away from the explosions, it suddenly happened and everybody started to run. It was so strong that all the windows shattered."

'All necessary measures'

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said his country would protect itself.

Mr Davutoglu, who was visiting Berlin, said: "There may be those who want to sabotage Turkey's peace, but we will not allow that.

"No-one should attempt to test Turkey's power. Our security forces will take all necessary measures."

He added that the blasts had taken place to deflect attention from efforts to solve the Syrian crisis.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague sent a message of solidarity to the people of Turkey.

"Appalling explosions in Reyhanli, Turkey," he wrote on Twitter. "My thoughts are with family & friends of the victims. We stand with the people of Turkey."

In a statement quoted by Reuters, US ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone said: "The United States strongly condemns today's vicious attack, and stands with the people and government of Turkey to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice."

The border area of Reyhanli has itself been attacked in recent months.

In February, an explosion near the town killed 17 people and wounded 30.

Five people were killed last October when a mortar round hit the Turkish border town of Akcakale.

 

Edit : Report site : www.bbc.co.uk Im just Sad

[soulJAHmon]

dammit, why do people find it ecessary to hurt each other.

[RedBaird]

Sorry to hear what has happened in your country.