Explosion in Turkish Town Close to Syrian Border

[Londonlegacy]

Interior ministry says at least 27 dead in ‘terrror attack’ at cultural centre in Suruç, about six miles from Kobani.

At least 27 people have been killed and nearly 100 taken to hospital after an explosion outside a cultural centre in the Turkish town of Suruç, near the border with Syria.

The death toll came from the interior ministry, which described the blast as a terrorist attack.

Television footage showed bodies lying beneath trees outside the building in the mostly Kurdish town in south-eastern Turkey, which lies about six miles (10km) from the Syrian border.

“I saw more than 20 bodies. I think the number of wounded is more than 50. They are still being put into ambulances,” one witness said by telephone, giving his name as Mehmet. “It was a huge explosion, we all shook.”

The interior ministry said: “We call on everyone to stand together and remain calm in the face of this terrorist attack which targets the unity of our country.”

Pervin Buldan, a senior lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish HDP opposition party, said local officials were investigating the possibility that it was a suicide bombing.

She said the blast happened as Turkish and Kurdish youths gathered at the cultural centre ahead of a planned trip to the town of Kobani in Syria, which was secured by Syrian Kurdish fighters last month after an assault by Islamic State militants.

“Turkish and Kurdish youth had come to cross into Kobani, and there were three or four days of activities planned,” she said, adding that HDP lawmakers were on their way to the scene.


A video posted on Facebook by one of the group of youth activists showed at least 20 people lying on the ground, some still alive. People milled about trying to comfort the wounded, as others cried out. Smoke and dust rose from the ground.

[spudigitti]

[kellyhound]

harsh scenes

[Berserk]

Update: At least 50 death.

[CasTex]

Here is the live action video!
http://cdn.ciner.com.tr/ht/2015/07/2...ED_640x360.mp4

[Berserk]

According to a Rudaw reporter at the scene, scores of dead bodies were strewn across the explosion site, the cultural center of the Socialist Students Federation. The Turkish government said 27 people were killed, but other death tolls vary as details emerge. Ismail Kaplan, an official in Suruc with the People's Democratic Party, said at least 50 people had been killed by the blast.


The explosion took place during a press conference held to announce the federation’s plans to help rebuild the war-torn town of Kobani in the ethnically Kurdish region of northern Syria known as Rojava.

The border town of Suruc, known to Kurds as Pirsus, is a 25-minute drive north of Kobani.

[Londonlegacy]

Video of the actual explosion!

Can one of the mod's embed this in the original first post?

[Berserk]

Right now: Twitter: -Turkish Police fires teargas at Ambulances that try to reach the area, and the Turkish cops laugh at the panicking citizens on the blast site

I knew the Turkish government didn't like the Kurdish majority but to act like this???

[icheerthebull]

This is the socialist youth association. Reports that tear gas was used by the police to push back crowds trying to help.

The Turkish state backs ISIS, the suicide bomber probably got a police escort.

[Berserk]

Link:
https://twitter.com/YilmazPadir/stat...75648697946112