Reyhanlı bombings

Reyhanlı bombings
Location Reyhanlı, Hatay Province, Turkey
Coordinates 36°16′09″N 36°34′02″E / 36.26917°N 36.56722°E / 36.26917; 36.56722Coordinates: 36°16′09″N 36°34′02″E / 36.26917°N 36.56722°E / 36.26917; 36.56722
Date 11 May 2013 (11 May 2013)
13:45 (EEST)
Attack type
 Dual car bombings
Deaths 52[1]
Non-fatal injuries
 140
Suspected perpetrators
  • Syrian government or Mukhabarat
  • Al-Nusra Front
  • ‘Al-Qaeda elements’
  • ISIL
  • Acilciler
  • Turks with ties to pro-government Syrian groups
(Accusations, claims, denials, arguments: see below in section ‘Responsibility’)

The Reyhanlı bombings took place on 11 May 2013, when two car bombs exploded in the town of Reyhanlı, a town of 64,000 people, 5 km from the Syrian border and the busiest land border post with Syria, in Hatay Province, Turkey. At least 51 people were killed and 140 injured in the attack.[2][3][4]

It is not known who was responsible for the attack. Options that have been suggested and defended are: the Syrian government; the al-Nusra Front; Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL); Acilciler—Turks with ties to Syrian groups—whose leader has implicated the Turkish Intelligence Organization.

Following the bombings, hundreds of Syrians felt constrained to flee Reyhanli, and some residents blamed the Turkish government for bringing the war in Syria to the town.[5]

Background

Reyhanlı is a town of 64,000 people in the far south of Turkey in Hatay Province, 5 km from the Syrian border and close to the busiest land border post with Syria: the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing.

Many Syrian refugees have passed through the town while fleeing from the civil war in their own country. The nearby Cilvegözü–Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing, which is controlled on the Syrian side by rebels, is the busiest crossing point between the two countries.[6]

On 3 October 2012, mortar fire from Syria killed five people in the Turkish border town of Akçakale. On 11 February 2013, the gate of the Cilvegözü–Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing was the scene of a deadly attack, when an explosion killed 17 people and injured 30 more.[7]

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),[2] and the second about 5 minutes later.[8] People attempting to help those injured in the first explosion were caught in the second blast.[7]

A Cumhuriyet journalist reported controversy over the number of fatalities. It was suspected by some news sources that government and local officials had instructed local health care workers to limit the death toll to 50, while the real number was 177.[9][10]

While some Syrian refugees were caught in the blasts, the majority of the fatalities involved were local Turks.[11] Although there is still no information about the names of the dead, local officials revealed their nationalities, and stated that 5 of 52 people killed by the attacks were Syrian.[12]

Responsibility

Several options have been raised for the responsibility for the attack.

Syrian government or Mukhabarat

On Saturday 11 May 2013, Turkey's two Deputy Prime Ministers Bülent Arınç and Besir Atalay said the Syrian “Mukhabarat (military intelligence service) and armed organizations are the usual suspects in planning and the carrying out of such devilish plans"[7] and Turkish voices accused Syria to be ‘behind the attacks’.[13]
Syria, by the mouth of Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi, immediately denied responsibility for the attacks, stating: "Syria (…) would never commit such an act because our values would not allow that."[11][14]

Turkish authorities on 11 May said they had detained nine Turks with links to the Syrian Mukhabarat (military intelligence service), as suspects of the bombings.[13][15] Prime Minister Erdogan said on 13 May also that he held the Syrian government responsible.[16] By 21 May, Turkey had charged 12 Turkish nationals with the attacks, whom they believed to be backed by the Syrian government.[17]

On 25 May 2013, Erdogan repeated his accusation of the Syrian regime being behind the attack.[18]

The Turkish Mr. Nasir Eskiocak, captured by the Turkish police on 10 June 2013 and then for a while prime suspect of the attack, said the attack was ordered by the Syrian Mukhabarat (military intelligence service), and then organized by him.[19]

Al-Nusra Front / al-Qaeda / ISIL

Acilciler versus Turkish government

Turkish authorities on 12 May 2013 suspected that former Turkish Marxist group Acilciler, now thought to be based in Syria, might have been revived by his leader Mihraç Ural, and might have ordered the attack.[13] Acilciler was, according to The Huffington Post, long-rumored to have been formed by the Syrian military intelligence service Mukhabarat.[13] The Turkish government on 12 May 2013 believed that Ural and his group, with their ties to pro-government Syrian groups, had carried out the attack.[13] Mihraç Ural, in return, has implicated the Turkish Intelligence Organization.[35]

Aftermath

There was widespread panic in Reyhanlı following the blasts, with many people attempting to flee the town.[2] Clashes broke out between Turkish and Syrian people in Reyhanlı, and police were forced to intervene by firing into the air to disperse the crowds.[6] Turkish residents of the town reportedly attacked Syrian refugees and automobiles with Syrian license plates.[7]

BBC Journalist Wyre Davies reported from the site of the bombings in Reyhanli that there was 'real anger' among the people on the streets, not just against whoever had carried out the attacks but also against the government in Ankara.[11] Hundreds of Syrian refugees had been forced to leave, 'scapegoats for the crimes of others' in Davies' account, blamed for bringing the Syrian war to the town.[36] The refugees were held to have made the town a target for Assad's agents in Turkey. The media also were unpopular. "Whoever carried out the bombings has deliberately and successfully driven a wedge between two communities who had always coexisted, even before the war, because of cross-border trade and other historic ties", the journalist wrote.[37]

In response to the attacks, the Turkish government sent large numbers of air and ground forces increasing the already heavy military presence in the area.[38]

Protesters clashed with police in the town on Saturday, 18 May, voicing their anger over the government's response to the attack and its decision to take in Syrian refugees fleeing the Syrian conflict.[39]

Turkey sealed the border with Syria for one month in order to stop possible suspects from escaping.[40]

Media ban

The Reyhanlı Court of Peace ordered all voice, written, and visual publications referring to the blasts' aftermath banned, including content describing, and images of, the injured and the dead. The court ruled that the written and visual content would jeopardize the confidentiality and outcome of the ongoing prosecution.[41] On 16 May 2013, the Hatay First Criminal Court cancelled the order issued by the Reyhanlı Court of Peace.[42] Only the state-run Anatolia news agency and Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) were allowed to cover visits by Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin and Health Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu to the injured in Antakya State Hospital. When the main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, of the Republican People's Party (CHP), visited the victims at the same hospital on Monday, only reporters from Anatolia and TRT were allowed to cover Kılıçdaroğlu's visit, while reporters from the Cihan News Agency, the İhlas News Agency and the Doğan News Agency were not allowed to do so.[43]

Several media unions protested the media ban imposed on the Reyhanlı bombings and appealed to the courts 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, stated that such bans would cause major misinformation and would result in misleading the public. The Press Institute Association of Turkey claimed the court order upholding the ban was a censure and a major blow to press freedom.[41]

Reactions

Domestic

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."[7] Speaking in Berlin, he said that the bombings were a consequence of global inaction in intervening in the Syrian civil war.[44]

Opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu held Erdogan accountable for the bombings and compared him to Syria's president Assad. Erdogan threatened to sue him in response.[45][46]

International

Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi placed responsibility for the attacks on the Turkish authorities and said, "it was the Turkish government that had facilitated the flow of arms, explosives, vehicles, fighters and money across the border into Syria", and thus "had turned the border areas into centres for international terrorism".[11]

The UN Security Council strongly condemned the Reyhanli bombings, stating, "Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed."[47] NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also condemned the attack, calling it "despicable", and said that NATO stood by Turkey.[7]

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."[7] 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."[48]

Investigations

On 11 May, the authorities had immediately detained nine suspected Turks.[13] By 20 May, 18 people had been detained.[49]

Investigations have revealed that Ankara was the initial target of the recent attacks in Reyhanlı, according to Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay.[50]

Turkish officials were accused of destroying evidence and imposing blanket censorship about the event.[51]

In July 2013, several MİT intelligence officials were dismissed for negligence, after an inquiry concluded that MİT had had sufficient information to prevent the attack, but had failed to share it with police quickly enough.[52]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hurriyet daily news, 27 May 2013". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Death toll rises to 42 as explosions hit Turkish town on border with Syria". Hurriyet Daily News. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Deadliest Terror Attack in Turkey's History Might Be Another Attempt to Derail Peace Talks? But Which One? Syria or PKK?". The Istanbulian. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  4. ↑ "Turkey Blames Syria's Assad for Its Deadliest Terror Attack". Bloomberg News. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  5. ↑ "BBC News". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 Cheviron, Nicholas (11 May 2013). "Dozens dead in Turkey car bombings near Syria border". AFP. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Blasts kill dozens in Turkish town Reyhanli on Syria border". BBC News. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  8. ↑ Güneş, Erdem (13 September 2011). "Death toll rises to 50 as explosions hit Turkish town on border with Syria". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Reyhanlı'da ölü sayısı 177 mi?" (in Turkish). Sözcü. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  10. ↑ Erdemol, Mustafa Kemal (14 May 2013). "Söylenti bombası" (in Turkish). Cumhuriyet. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Davies, Wyre (12 May 2013). "Syria denies Turkey Reyhanli car bombs role". BBC News. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  12. ↑ Güneş, Erdem 'Syrian refugees victim of Reyhanlı bombs, too',Hurriyet Daily News, 16 May 2013. Retrieved on 18 May 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "9 detained over car bombings". Huffington Post. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "Syria denies link to Turkey car bombs". Al Jazeera. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  15. ↑ Oren Dorell, USA TODAY (12 May 2013). "USA Today, 12 May 2013". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Turkish MP blames Al Nusra for border town attack". The National (Abu Dhabi). 14 May 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "AFP, 21 May 2013". Al-Arabiya. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  18. 1 2 "Turkey admits Reyhanli was attacked by al-Qaeda". Al-Monitor. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  19. ↑ "Reyhanli attack work of Syria's al-Muhabarat, suspect says". World Bulletin. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  20. ↑ aksam.com.tr http://www.aksam.com.tr/siyaset/celikten-redhack-ve-reyhanli-belgesi-aciklamasi-1-er-gozaltinda/haber-208880. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ↑ "�şte Redhack'in Reyhanlı belgeleri". aksam.com.tr. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2014. replacement character in |title= at position 1 (help)
  22. ↑ "Hükümetten şok Reyhanlı açıklaması". CNN Türk. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  23. ↑ "Turkish police prevent 'attack on refugees in Reyhanlı' - LOCAL". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "Redhack Releases Cables on Reyhanlı Blasts - english". Bianet - Bagimsiz Iletisim Agi. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  25. ↑ "Turkish diplomat says Reyhanlı attack carried out by Al-Qaeda". Today's Zaman. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  26. ↑ "Syria absolutely behind Reyhanlı attack, says Turkish ministry". Hürriyet Daily News. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  27. ↑ "ISIL threatens Erdoğan with suicide bombings in Ankara, İstanbul". Today's Zaman. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  28. ↑ Mynet. "El Kaide, Reyhanlıyı Üstlendi İddiası Haberi ve Son Dakika Haberler Mynet". Mynet Haber. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  29. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20141006164602/http://www.aydinlikdaily.com/Al-Qaeda-Claims-Responsibility-for-Reyhanl%C4%B1-790. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. ↑ ""Reyhanlı'yı El Kaide üstlendi"... Erdoğan'ı da tehdit ettiler". Gazeteciler. 30 September 2013.
  31. ↑ ""El Kaide, Reyhanlı'yı üstlendi" iddiası". CNN Türk. 1 October 2013.
  32. ↑ "Reyhanlı saldırısını El Kaide üstlendi" [Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Reyhanlı Attack]. Oda TV (in Turkish). 1 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  33. ↑ "دولة الإسلام في العراق والشام تتبنى تفجيرات الريحانية وتهدد أردوغان "بسلسلة من الهجمات الإستشهادية"". Radio Nawa. 30 September 2013.
  34. ↑ "داعش تهدد أردوغان: إفتح معبري باب السلامة و باب الهوى.. وإلا". Sham Times. 30 September 2013.
  35. ↑ Örnek, Elif (28 October 2015). "Mihraç Ural: Reyhanlı'da amaç Suriye'yi suçlamaktı" [Mihraç Ural: The purpose of Reyhanlı was to accuse Syria]. Sputnik Türkiye (in Turkish). Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  36. ↑ "BBC News, 15 May 2013". BBC News. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  37. ↑ "Wyre Davies, BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  38. ↑ "Turkey sends military reinforcements to Syrian border after blast". Cihan. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  39. ↑ "CNN News". CNN. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  40. ↑ "Turkey seals border crossing with Syria after deadly bomb attacks". Press TV. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  41. 1 2 "Journalists Protest Media Ban in Reyhanlı Blasts". Bianet. BIA news desk. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  42. ↑ "In Turkish: Yayin yasagi kaldirildi.". 16 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  43. ↑ "Gov't under fire for limiting freedom of press, favoring state-run media". 19 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  44. ↑ "Turkey blames 'inaction' on Syria for attacks". Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  45. ↑ "Turkey PM to Sue Opposition Leader over Assad Comparison". Naharnet. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  46. ↑ "Turkish media has not stood up enough against Bashar al-Assad: PM Erdoğan". Hurriyet Daily News. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  47. ↑ "UN Security Council strongly condemns Reyhanlı bombings". Timeturk. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  48. ↑ "U.S. strongly condemns Turkey border blasts: ambassador". Reuters. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  49. ↑ "Four wanted in Reyhanlı investigation". Hürriyet Daily News. ADANA – Anatolian News Agency. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  50. ↑ "Real target of Reyhanlı car bombs was in Ankara, says deputy PM". Hürriyet Daily News. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  51. ↑ The Role of Turkey in the US-NATO-Israeli War on Syria Turkey's False-flag Operation against Syria Backfires: The Reyhanli bombing attacks in a larger context, Global Research, 29 May 2013
  52. ↑ Today's Zaman, 14 Jul 2013, MİT provincial chief sacked over unshared intelligence in Reyhanlı attack
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