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Blast in Turkey: 50 dead, 94 injured [UPDATE]

21 August 2016 [13:27] - TODAY.AZ
By  Trend

Death toll in blast in Turkey has reached risen 50 people, Anadolu agency reported. 

Gaziantep Governor Ali Yerlikaya said the blast was a terror attack and that there were injuries reported. Ambulances and police have been dispatched to the scene.

Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet ?im?ek said that the explosion may have been caused by a suicide attack, adding that the death toll might be higher than reported.

"The aim of terror is to scare the people but we will not allow this," said ?im?ek, who also represents Gaziantep in the Turkish parliament.

"It is barbaric to attack a wedding," he told Turkish television.

The blast took place in a mainly Kurdish-inhabited neighborhood of the city, while local reporters and officials said that the family hosting the wedding is from eastern Turkey. Reports suggest that 300 to 500 people were at the area when the explosion took place.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy ?amil Tayyar said that the attack was carried out by Daesh terrorist group.

Gaziantep borders Syria's Aleppo province, where intense clashes between Daesh and U.S.-backed SDF and opposition groups have been continuing for weeks in the towns of Manbij and Jarablous.

Four years ago on Aug 20, 10 people were killed and 66 others were injured in a car bomb attack carried out by PKK terror organization in Gaziantep. This coincidence also raised questions whether this date was specifically chosen.

Deputies of the province departed for Gaziantep after the blast, while Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m instructed several ministers to depart for Gaziantep.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/153551.html

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