Istanbul (CNN) -- A top Turkish official said Saturday that authorities believe those responsible for a pair of deadly car bombings earlier in the day had been in contact with the Syrian government's secret police force.
Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay stopped short of saying that Turkey believes the Syrian government was directly responsible for the blasts, while also stating that Syrian refugees or members of the Syrian opposition were not to blame.
Atalay added that license plate checks have been "completed" and "the organization and its members (behind the attacks) have been largely identified."
He spoke hours after two car bombs exploded Saturday afternoon in the southern Turkey town of Reyhanli, according to Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler. In addition to the dead, 29 people were injured critically, said Guler. Atalay added that 50 people were still hospitalized as of Saturday night.
The first blast occurred at about 1:55 p.m. at the municipality building, which houses city government offices. A second, more powerful blast occurred in front of the post office.
In both cases, cars were loaded with large amounts of explosive material, according to Guler. There was a third explosion of a diesel fuel tank elsewhere in Reyhanli, but Guler said this was ruled an accident.
Abu Marwan was just outside of the town when he heard the blasts and hurried to the scene of one of them, where he saw "body parts everywhere."
Reply With Quote
Connect With Us