Post date: May 11, 2013 4:8:2 PM
Turkey says at least 30 people were killed and dozens more wounded when two car bombs exploded in the Turkish town of Reyhanli near the Syrian border.
REYHANLI, TURKEY (MAY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) - Twin car bombs killed at least 30 people near Turkey's border with Syriaon Saturday (May 11), increasing fears that Syria's civil war was spilling over its borders and prompting a swift and stern warning from Ankara not to test its resolve.
Mobile phone footage obtained by Reuters shows the immediate aftermath of the two explosions as people try extinguish fires and help the wounded."I was sitting in my pharmacy and suddenly we heard a massive explosion. When I looked from my window I saw wounded people and dead bodies," said Ismail Akin.
Turkey supports the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said it was no coincidence the attacks in the town of Reyhanli came as diplomatic moves to end the conflict intensify.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the powerful blasts.
"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," said Hayrullah Bal.
One unidentified man said he didn't know who to help first when he arrived on the scene.
"We were standing at the corner, suddenly it happened. There were so many wounded people we could not decide who to help first."
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said the bombings may have been related to the conflict in Syria or to Turkey's own peace process with Kurdish militants.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government are the "usual suspects" behind the car bombs .
Arinc also told reporters in comments broadcast live that Turkey must wait for the results of an investigation before deciding on any response.
NATO member Turkey has been one of Assad's harshest critics and has harboured both Syrian refugees and rebels during the uprising against him, now in its third year.
Prospects appeared to improve this week for diplomacy over the civil war, in which more than 70,000 people have been killed, after Moscow and Washington announced a joint effort to bring government and rebels to an international conference.
But a Russian official said on Saturday that there was already disagreement over who would represent the opposition and he doubted whether a meeting could happen this month.