Reyhanlı attack may be linked to peace process, Turkish PM suggests
(Hürriyet Daily) – Deadly attacks in Hatay’s Reyhanlı district along the Syrian border that killed at least 42 people today might be linked with the ongoing Kurdish peace process in Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suggested in his first remarks after the explosions.
“We have started a resolution process in our country, and there are those who don’t accept this new era or do not consider the air of freedom to be positive who might have been involved in such [attacks],” Erdoğan said, emphasizing that the province of Hatay on the border with Syria was a particularly sensitive area. “Hatay is a province where there are some sensibilities. Some might have intended to incite these sensitivities. Around 20,000 to 25,000 Syrians live in camps [across Hatay]. It might be a factor of not accepting this.”
Hatay is one of the most heterogeneous areas of Turkey, home to many minorities including Kurds and Alawites. Since Syria’s civil war started two years ago, tens of thousands of Syrian refugees have also been settled in the province, stoking occasional tensions.
Protests after car bombs in Turkish border town
Videos posted on Turkish news websites showed a group of around 100 Turks marching in central Reyhanli calling for Prime Minister Erdogan to resign, blaming the attack on his government’s policy towards Syria.
Turkey blames Syria after car bombs kill dozens near border
(The Guardian) – The Turkish government has blamed Syria for the deaths of at least 40 people in two car bomb blasts in a town near the border with the country. The two bombs exploded within 15 minutes of each other in the centre of Reyhanli, which has become a hub for refugees leaving Syria and rebels entering it.
The deputy prime minister, Bulent Arinc, said Syrian refugees were a frequent target of the Syrian regime. “Reyhanli was not chosen by coincidence. Our thoughts are that their intelligence agency and armed organisations are the usual suspects in planning and carrying out of such devilish plans,” he said. Arinc added that Turkey would “do whatever is necessary” if it were proven that Syria was behind the attack.
Reyhanli is a centre for aid and weapon trafficking between Turkey and Syria, as well as for Syrian rebel activity. Apart from refugees living in camps, many Syrians escaping the civil war have also rented houses in the town.
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