Suicide bombers kill at least 33, wound dozens in Syria's Aleppo
Source: Agencies |
October 4, 2012, Thursday
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THREE suicide bombers detonated cars packed with explosives in the main square of the northern city of Aleppo on Wednesday, killing at least 33 people, leveling buildings and trapping survivors under the rubble, Syrian state TV said.
The blasts went off at a main square in a government-controlled district of the city, while a fourth explosion detonated a few hundred meters away near the Chamber of Commerce, causing massive destruction that trapped scores under the rubble.
Aleppo, Syria's commercial hub and largest city, has seen intensified fighting between regime forces and rebels trying to oust President Bashar Assad, especially after the fighters launched a new offensive last week. But it has not been the target of frequent suicide attacks, and yesterday's stunning wave of explosions caused panic and fear among residents.
State-run news agency SANA said the bombings targeted Saadallah al-Jabri square, describing them as the work of terrorists, and said at least 33 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. Authorities refer to rebels fighting to topple Assad as terrorists and armed gangs.
A state-run channel, Ikhbariya, showed footage of massive damage around the square, which also houses a famous hotel. One building appeared leveled to the ground. The facade of another was heavily damaged.
The TV showed footage of several bodies, including one being pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building.
"It was like a series of earthquakes," said a shaken resident. "It was terrifying, terrifying."
He said the officers' club and the hotel were almost completely destroyed.
A Syrian government official said the number of deaths would likely increase because many of the wounded were in critical condition. He said soldiers killed two more would-be suicide bombers at the scene, before they could detonate their explosives.
Aleppo-based activist Mohammad Saeed said the explosions went off minutes apart at one of the city's main squares. He said the blasts appear to have been caused by car bombs and were followed by clashes and heavy gunfire.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on activists on the ground, reported dozens of casualties from the blasts, most of them members of the government forces.
A statement from the observatory said the explosions followed a clash between guards at the officers' club and gunmen. It said a fourth car bomb went off in the Bab Jnein area near the Chamber of Commerce, causing an unspecified number of casualties there.
The uprising against Assad erupted in March 2011.
The blasts went off at a main square in a government-controlled district of the city, while a fourth explosion detonated a few hundred meters away near the Chamber of Commerce, causing massive destruction that trapped scores under the rubble.
Aleppo, Syria's commercial hub and largest city, has seen intensified fighting between regime forces and rebels trying to oust President Bashar Assad, especially after the fighters launched a new offensive last week. But it has not been the target of frequent suicide attacks, and yesterday's stunning wave of explosions caused panic and fear among residents.
State-run news agency SANA said the bombings targeted Saadallah al-Jabri square, describing them as the work of terrorists, and said at least 33 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded. Authorities refer to rebels fighting to topple Assad as terrorists and armed gangs.
A state-run channel, Ikhbariya, showed footage of massive damage around the square, which also houses a famous hotel. One building appeared leveled to the ground. The facade of another was heavily damaged.
The TV showed footage of several bodies, including one being pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building.
"It was like a series of earthquakes," said a shaken resident. "It was terrifying, terrifying."
He said the officers' club and the hotel were almost completely destroyed.
A Syrian government official said the number of deaths would likely increase because many of the wounded were in critical condition. He said soldiers killed two more would-be suicide bombers at the scene, before they could detonate their explosives.
Aleppo-based activist Mohammad Saeed said the explosions went off minutes apart at one of the city's main squares. He said the blasts appear to have been caused by car bombs and were followed by clashes and heavy gunfire.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on activists on the ground, reported dozens of casualties from the blasts, most of them members of the government forces.
A statement from the observatory said the explosions followed a clash between guards at the officers' club and gunmen. It said a fourth car bomb went off in the Bab Jnein area near the Chamber of Commerce, causing an unspecified number of casualties there.
The uprising against Assad erupted in March 2011.
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