News / Turkey

One killed as mortars hit Turkish school near Syria border

Monday, 18 January 2016 9:44 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 18 January 2016 10:34 AM ]

Turkish inspectors seen at the site of a rocket attack on a school in the town of Kilis, January 18, 2016. (Anadolu news agency)

Several people have been wounded and at least one person is killed in a mortar attack that targeted a school on Turkey’s southeastern border with Syria.

The mortar attack hit the school in the Turkish town of Kilis on Monday, Turkish NTV television reported.

Authorities evacuated the school after the attack.

Security officials, however, say the death toll may increase.

Citing a government official, Reuters reported that the authorities were investigating whether the mortar shells had been fired from Syria.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports say Turkey has launched missiles into Syria in retaliation for the attack.

The mayor of the town, Hasan Kara, said the explosion was a result of "two or more mortars" fired from Syria. "It seems that the shelling came from the south," he said.

Kara said that no children were injured "as of now" and the explosion only caused damage to the garden of the school and a car in the area.

Kilis is a town located just north of the Syrian border, some 10 kilometers from the Syrian town of Azaz. According to Turkish officials, it is the only town in Turkey with a majority of Syrians.

In the last months, the area has been the scene of fierce clashes involving the Daesh Takfiri militants, whom Ankara said is working to push out of the border zone.

Turkey has long been accused of being one of the main supporters of the militant groups operating in Syria, with reports saying that Ankara actively trains and arms the Takfiri elements there and facilitates their safe passage into Syria.

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