Syria: Day of carnage rocks Aleppo

AROUND 33 people died yesterday in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo when three suicide bombers detonated cars packed with explosives in its main square.

The blasts destroyed building and trapped many people under the rubble, state television said.

A fourth explosion a few hundred yards away also struck near the edge of the Old City, a world heritage site, where rebels and government forces have been battling in fierce street fighting.

In the past few months, Aleppo has become a key battleground between regime forces and rebels trying to oust president Bashar al-Assad in a 20-month long uprising. The opposition launched an initial offensive on the city, Syria’s largest and commercial hub, in July, which has left large swathes of the ancient city shattered.

Rebels last week announced a new concerted push to capture Aleppo, which would be a major strategic prize, giving the victor new momentum. It would also provide the opposition with a base, with easy logistical supply lines with Turkey to the north, from which to carry out their fight against the regime in the rest of the country. Syria’s state-run Sana news agency said the bombings yesterday morning targeted Saadallah al-Jabri square and were carried out by “terrorists” and killed at least 33 and wounded dozens more. Authorities refer to rebels fighting to topple Mr Assad as terrorists.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. Previous bombings in Aleppo and Damascus have raised concerns that the al-Qaeda terror network is becoming increasingly active in Syria. Jabhat al-Nusra, or Victory Front, a Sunni extremist group in Syria, has claimed responsibility for previous such attacks.

Footage broadcast on the state-run Ikhbariya channel showed massive damage around the square, which also houses a famous hotel and a coffee shop popular with regime forces. One building appeared levelled to the ground. The façade of another was heavily damaged.

The station showed video of several bodies, including one being pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building. Rescue workers stood on top of piles of concrete and debris, frantically trying to pull out survivors.

“It was like a series of earthquakes,” said a resident who declined to be identified. “It was terrifying, terrifying.”

Speaking by telephone, the resident said the officers’ club and the hotel were almost completely destroyed. His account could not be immediately verified, although the TV footage showed at least one building reduced to rubble.

Activists could not reach the area, which is controlled by security forces within checkpoints.

A Syrian official said many of the wounded were in critical condition. Regime troops killed two more would-be suicide bombers before they could detonate their explosives, he said.

State TV showed the bodies of three men in army uniforms at the site of the explosions. One wore an explosive belt with a timer tied to his wrist.

Aleppo-based activist Mohammad Saeed said the explosions went off minutes apart. He said the blasts appeared to have been caused by car bombs and were followed by heavy gunfire.

“The area is heavily fortified by security and the presence of shabiha,” he said, referring to pro-regime gunmen. “It makes you wonder how car bombs could reach there.”