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Syria crisis: 'Barrel bomb strikes kill 72' in Aleppo province | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
At least 72 people have been killed in Syria's northern Aleppo province by barrel bombs dropped from government helicopters, activists say. | |
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 60 people died in the strike on al-Bab - a town currently held by Islamic State (IS) militants. | |
It says 12 were killed in a rebel-held quarter of the city of Aleppo. | |
Syria's government has repeatedly denied using barrel bombs - large containers filled with explosives. | Syria's government has repeatedly denied using barrel bombs - large containers filled with explosives. |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which gathers information through a network of activists in Syria, called it one of the worst massacres perpetrated by the government so far this year. | |
The SOHR says at least 60 people were killed in the attack on al-Bab's busy market on Saturday morning after government helicopters dropped two barrel bombs in quick succession. | |
Many of the victims were blown to pieces or burnt beyond recognition by the blasts, which devastated the market, shops and vehicles, reports the BBC's Jim Muir from neighbouring Lebanon. | |
Most of those killed or injured were men, because women do not appear much in public in areas controlled by IS, as al-Bab has been for some time, our correspondent adds. | |
In Aleppo, a man told the BBC he ran to the site of the barrel-bomb attack to find a vehicle on fire with around eight civilians dead inside it. | |
Activists report barrel bombs being dropped from government helicopters every day in different parts of the country. | |
They consist of steel drums packed with explosives and shrapnel - and sometimes with chlorine also added, according to many reports. | |
They are highly inaccurate, and often cause massive damage and indiscriminate casualties in built-up areas. | |
The Syrian government has made no public comment on the reports, which have not been independently verified. | |
In February, Human Rights Watch group accused Damascus of dropping barrel bombs on hundreds of sites in 2014, violating a UN Security resolution. | In February, Human Rights Watch group accused Damascus of dropping barrel bombs on hundreds of sites in 2014, violating a UN Security resolution. |
In an interview with the BBC also in February, President Bashar al-Assad denied his forces used barrel bombs. Dismissing the allegation as a "childish story", he said: "There are no barrel bombs. We don't have barrels." | In an interview with the BBC also in February, President Bashar al-Assad denied his forces used barrel bombs. Dismissing the allegation as a "childish story", he said: "There are no barrel bombs. We don't have barrels." |
Aleppo has been divided between government- and rebel-held areas since fighting erupted in the former commercial hub in 2012. | Aleppo has been divided between government- and rebel-held areas since fighting erupted in the former commercial hub in 2012. |
More than 220,000 people have been killed across Syria since the start of the uprising against President Bashar in 2011, according to UN estimates. | More than 220,000 people have been killed across Syria since the start of the uprising against President Bashar in 2011, according to UN estimates. |