Bomb blast on Turkish-Syrian border
At least 43 people were killed and 100 others injured after explosions shook a Turkish town on Saturday near the border with Syria, Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler said.
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| Bomb explosions on Turkish-Syrian border Source: detroinews/VOV |
Initial reports said four blasts occurred near the municipality building and post offices in the town of Reyhanli in the southern Turkish province of Hatay. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday slammed the incident as an act of "provocation," saying "there may be some powers who want to sabotage peace in Turkey." Local reports said tensions have already been high in the area for a couple of weeks. Lately, there was a gang fight between Syrian refugees and Turkish youths in Reyhanli. Turkey is facing an influx of Syrian refugees with the worsening situation in Syria.
On Sunday, some world leaders criticized the bomb attacks. UN Chief Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the attack saying that there is no excuse for any attack on civilians. Meanwhile, US ambassador to Turkey, Francis Riciardone affirmed that the US strongly criticized the bombing adding that the US stays side by side with the Turkish government and people. Syria’s National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary forces said those attacks aimed to drive a wedge between Turkey and Syria.
On the same day, speaking on Turkey’s National TV, Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler said the group responsible for the bombing is tied to supporting groups to Syria’s government and its intelligence.