(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) At least 30 people were killed in a possible suicide bomb attack in southern Turkey on Monday, a local official said.
Abdullah Ciftci, district governor of Suruc, said 21 were killed at the scene of the blast in the town center and another nine died at local hospitals.
He added: "There is information that the explosion could be due to a suicide bomber and the security forces are contacting meticulous efforts."
In an earlier statement, the Interior Ministry said the death toll from the blast in Suruc, a city in Sanliurfa province just across the border from the Syrian town of Kobani, is likely to rise.
The ministry called for calm, describing the blast as a "terror attack that targeted our country's unity and integrity" and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.
"The death toll is feared to rise," the ministry said in a statement, adding that around 100 casualties were being treated at Suruc and Sanliurfa state hospitals.
Ciftci said autopsies would be carried out on the victims' bodies.
A team of forensic experts have arrived at the site of the explosion and security has been raised in the area, the ministry said.
"Turkey condemns the perpetrators of this heinous attack that targeted the peaceful environment and offers condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to the wounded," it added.
According to local media sources, the blast targeted members of the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations who had gathered in the garden of the Amara Cultural Center, which is run by the local municipality.
Meanwhile, the prime minister's office said three ministers had been sent to visit Suruc.
Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan condemned the "despicable" incident on his official Twitter account, saying terrorist attacks on Turkey's integrity and peace would never achieve their goal.
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, chairman of Republican People's Party (CHP), also condemned the "insidious" attack and said the party had sent a team to the town. The CHP called on local members to donate blood for those wounded in the blast.
The leaders of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) issued a statement condemning the "inhuman and despicable" massacre.
Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag offered to collaborate with all political parties to stem further attacks.
The two leaders pinned the blame on Daesh militants and accused those who support the extremist group of being partners in the attack.
Earlier, the HDP announced they would hold an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday morning at the party's headquarters in capital Ankara.
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