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	51
Injured	140

On 11 May 2013, two car bombs exploded in the town of Reyhanlı, Hatay Province, Turkey. At least 51 people were killed and 140 injured in the attack. The attack was the deadliest act of terrorism to occur on Turkish soil.

By 12 May 2013, nine Turkish citizens, alleged to have links to the Syrian intelligence agency, had been detained. Authorities suspected that Mihraç Ural, now thought to be based in Syria, may have revived former Marxist group Acilciler and ordered the attack. Acilciler, led by Ural, 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 EEST (10:45 UTC), and the second about 15 minutes later. People attempting to help those injured in the first explosion were caught in the second blast.

While some Syrian refugees were caught in the blasts, the majority of the fatalities involved were local Turks.

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.

BBC Journalist Wyre Davies stationed at the site of the bombings in Reyhanli reported there being 'real anger' by the people on the streets of Reyhanli, not just with whoever carried out the attacks but also with the government in Ankara. Hundreds of Syrian refugees have been forced to leave, 'scapegoats for the crimes of others', in Davies' account, blamed for bringing the Syrian war to the town. "Even though most locals here sympathise with the plight of Assad's opponents inside Syria, some say the sheer number of refugees has brought trouble to these border towns [-] Reyhanli's residents are justifiably angry. Their town is in ruins, hundreds of business have been destroyed or damaged [-] They blame everyone: their own government for giving aid and support to opponents of the Assad regime; the thousands of refugees who have inadvertently and unwillingly made the town a target for Assad's agents in Turkey; the media too, is rounded upon [-] Whoever carried out the bombings has deliberately and successfully driven a wedge between the two communities who always coexisted, even before the war with cross-border trade and their historic ties."

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.

The Reyhanlı Court of Peace ordered all voice, written, and visual publications relating to the scenes of incidents after the blasts banned, including content and images of the injured and the dead. The court also ruled that the visual and written content would jeopardize the confidentiality and outcome of the ongoing prosecution.

On 16 May 2013, Hatay 1st Criminal Court abolished the order which the Reyhanlı Court of Peace ruled on.

Investigations have revealed the real target of the recent attacks in Reyhanlı as Ankara, according to Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay.

Reactions

Domestic

The perpetrators of the car bombings in Reyhanlı are not known, but Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has said those who carried out the attacks have links with the Syrian regime. According to Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, Syrian refugees have become a target of the Syrian regime and Reyhanlı was not chosen by coincidence, "their Mukhabarat [intelligence agency] and armed organizations 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.

Mehmet Ali Ediboğlu, a Turkish MP, blamed the Nusra Front for the attacks.

Several media unions have protested the media ban imposed on the Reyhanlı bombings and have appealed to court to remove the ban immediately. The media ban was condemned by several journalistic organizations in Turkey. Atilla Sertel, the Chairperson of the Journalists Federation of Turkey, has stated that such bans will cause cause major misinformation and mislead the public in reference to the media ban. The Press Institute Association of Turkey have claimed the court order upholding the ban to be a censure and a major blow to press freedom.

International

The UN Security Council strongly condemned Reyhanli bombings, by pointing "Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed". NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also condemned the attack, calling 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." 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."

Syria offically denied responsibility for the attacks. Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi stated "Syria did not commit and would never commit such an act because our values would not allow that". In response to the accusations, Mr. Zoubi placed responsibility back on the Turkish authorities and said it was the Turkish government that had fostered an area of international terrorism on the border.

See also

• Syria–Turkey relations