Bombing in Turkey

They would, wouldn't they?

Turkey blames Syria after car bombs kill dozens near border

Deputy prime minister says Syrian regime's intelligence agency and armed groups are 'usual suspects' in attack on Reyhanli

the Guardian,

11 May, 2013

The Turkish government has blamed Syria for the deaths of at least 40 people in two car bomb blasts in a town near the border with the country.

The two bombs exploded within 15 minutes of each other in the centre of Reyhanli, which has become a hub for refugees leaving Syria and rebels entering it.

The deputy prime minister, Bulent Arinc, said Syrian refugees were a frequent target of the Syrian regime. "Reyhanli was not chosen by coincidence. Our thoughts are that their intelligence agency and armed organisations are the usual suspects in planning and carrying out of such devilish plans," he said. Arinc added that Turkey would "do whatever is necessary" if it were proven that Syria was behind the attack.

The Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, earlier also raised the possibility that the bombings may be related to Turkey's peace talks with Kurdish rebels meant to end a nearly 30-year-old conflict.

Syrian mortar rounds have fallen over the border before, but if the explosion turns out to be linked to Syria it would be by far the biggest death toll in Turkey related to its neighbour's civil war.

Syria shares more than 500 miles of border with Turkey, which has supported the Syrian rebel cause. Ankara has allowed its territory to be used as a logistics base and staging centre for Syrian insurgents.

The foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, vowed from Berlin that Turkey would act. "Those who for whatever reason attempt to bring the external chaos into our country will get a response," he said.

The main Syrian opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, condemned the "terrorist attacks" in Reyhanli, saying it stood together with the "Turkish government and the friendly Turkish people".

The coalition sees "these heinous terrorist acts as an attempt to take revenge on the Turkish people and punish them for their honourable support for the Syrian people", it said.

Reyhanli is a centre for aid and weapon trafficking between Turkey and Syria, as well as for Syrian rebel activity. Apart from refugees living in camps, many Syrians escaping the civil war have also rented houses in the town.