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Blasts kill dozens in Turkish town Reyhanli on Syria border | Blasts kill dozens in Turkish town Reyhanli on Syria border |
(35 minutes later) | |
Car bombs have killed 40 people and injured 100 in the Turkish town of Reyhanli, near the Syrian border, Turkey's interior minister says. | Car bombs have killed 40 people and injured 100 in the Turkish town of Reyhanli, near the Syrian border, Turkey's interior minister says. |
Muammer Guler told Turkey's NTV that two bombs had gone off in the town near the town hall and post office. | Muammer Guler told Turkey's NTV that two bombs had gone off in the town 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 said they had carried out the attack but a Turkish minister 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. | |
'So many' | |
It appears that the 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. | 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' | '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." | "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. | 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." | |
The border area of Reyhanli has itself been attacked in recent months. | 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. | 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. | Five people were killed last October when a mortar round hit the Turkish border town of Akcakale. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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