AN apparent suicide blast in a Turkish town near the Syrian border tore through a political meeting yesterday, killing at least 28 people in an attack officials called a “terrorist” strike. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The site of the blast, Suruc, is near the Syrian town of Kobane, where Syrian Kurdish defenders have faced attacks by Islamic State fighters since late last year.
A statement from Turkey’s Interior Ministry described the bloodshed as a “terrorist attack.” The Associated Press, citing the prime minister’s office, said at least 28 people were killed and about 100 were injured.
Turkish reports said the blast tore through a cultural centre hosting a pro-Kurdish political group discussing efforts to rebuild Kobane, which has been devastated by the fighting.
Officials also said investigators believe the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, raising speculation of links to militant groups such as the Islamic State.
“We are certain it was a suicide bomber,” the provincial governor, Izzettin Kucuk, was quoted as saying by the Hurriyet newspaper. — Washington Post.



