Video China World Entertainment Sports Lifestyle  
 

At least 42 dead in blasts on Turkish-Syrian border

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail CNTV, May 12, 2013
Adjust font size:

 

A pair of car bombings have killed at least 42 people and wounded many more in a Turkish town near the Syrian border. Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay said initial findings showed the attackers were linked to Syria's intelligence agency. For more on the attacks, SI NAN takes a look.

One of the deadliest attacks in Turkey in recent years......Two car bombs exploded near the country's border with Syria on Saturday. The blasts were 15 minutes apart. And they hit the busiest street in the southwestern town of Reyhanli- a main hub for Syrian refugees and rebel activity in Hatay Province.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says the deadly attacks MAY have been related to the conflict in Syria. "One sensitive issue is that Hatay province is on the border with Syria. These actions may have been taken to provoke those sensitivities." Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister said.

However, Erdogan also cautioned that the attacks could be related to Turkey's own peace process with Kurdish militants.

But, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said the Syrian government is the "usual suspect" behind car bombings. He said "Reyhanli was not chosen by coincidence."

Turkey has already played host to Syria's political opposition and rebel commanders, and has also given shelter to hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. In the past, it has retaliated against Syrian artillery shells that landed in its territory. But this latest attack has raised fears that Turkey may be drawn even further into Syria's brutal civil war.

The Turkish govenrment said the attacks are still being investigated. But if it's proven that Syria was behind the attack, the government says it would "do whatever is necessary."

 

Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter