2013 Reyhanlı car bombings

2013 Reyhanlı bombings
Location	Reyhanlı, Hatay Province, Turkey
Coordinates	36°16′09″N 36°34′02″E
Date	11 May 2013 (11 May 2013) 13:45 (EEST)
Attack type	Dual car bombings
Deaths	46
Injured	140

On 11 May 2013, two car bombs exploded in the town of Reyhanlı, Hatay Province, Turkey. At least 46 people were killed and 140 more were injured in the attack. This attack was the deadliest act of terrorism to occur on Turkish soil. By 12 May nine Turkish citizens, believed to have links to the Syrian intelligence agency, had been detained. Authorities suspect Mirhac Ural,the leader of a former Marxist group, now thought to be based in Syria, may have revived his group and ordered the attack. His group, Acilciler, was active in Turkey during the 1970s and 1980s, and was "long-rumored to have been formed by the Syrian intelligence agency."

Background

Further information: 2012 Syrian–Turkish border clashes

Reyhanlı is located in the far south of Turkey close to the Syrian border. Many Syrian refugees have passed through the town while fleeing from the civil war in their own country. The nearby Cilvegozu–Bab al-Hawa border crossing, which is controlled on the Syrian side by rebels, is the busiest crossing point between the two countries.

On 3 October 2012, Syrian mortar fire killed five people in the Turkish border town of Akçakale in southeastern Turkey. The border near Reyhanlı was the scene of a previous deadly attack on 11 February 2013, when an explosion killed 17 people and injured 30 more.

Bombings

Two car bombs were left outside Reyhanlı's town hall and post office. The first exploded at around 13:45 and the second exploded about 15 minutes later. People attempting to help those injured in the first explosion were caught in the second blast.

Aftermath

There was widespread panic in Reyhanlı following the blasts, with many people attempting to flee the town. Clashes also broke out between Turkish and Syrian people in Reyhanlı and police were forced to intervene by firing into the air to disperse the crowds. Turkish residents of the town reportedly attacked Syrian refugees and automobiles with Syrian license plates following the bombing.

In response to the attacks, the Turkish government sent large numbers of air and ground forces to increase the already heavy military presence in the area.

Reactions

Domestic

It is not known who carried out the car bombings in Reyhanlı, but a member of the Turkish government blamed the Syrian government and its supporters. According to Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc Syrian refugees have become a target of the Syrian regime and Reyhanli was not chosen by coincidence, "their Mukhabarat [intelligence agency] and armed organisations are the usual suspects in planning and the carrying out of such devilish plans." Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said: "There may be those who want to sabotage Turkey's peace, but we will not allow that. No-one should attempt to test Turkey's power. Our security forces will take all necessary measures." Speaking in Berlin, he said that the bombings were a consequence of global inaction in intervening in the Syrian civil war.

International

The attack was condemned by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who called it "despicable" and said that NATO stood by Turkey. British Foreign Secretary William Hague issued a Twitter statement saying: "My thoughts are with family and friends of the victims. We stand with the people of Turkey." Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi reacted to the accusations against the Syrian government in saying "Syria did not commit and would never commit such an act because our values would not allow that." United States Ambassador Francis Ricciardone stated that the U.S. "strongly condemns today's vicious attack, and stands with the people and government of Turkey to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice."

See also

• Syria–Turkey relations