Twin Suicide Attacks Rattle Syrian City of Aleppo

Syrian State TV reported early this morning that “two terrorist” explosions struck the northern city of Aleppo.  25 people were killed and 175 injured in today’s attacks after two suicide bombers drove their vans into the military security building and the law enforcement headquarters, State TV quoted the Health Ministry as saying.

Aleppo, which borders Turkey and is Syria’s second largest city, has been relatively quiet as violence rages on in other parts of the country.

The weeping Syria State TV presenter began his report with graphic footage of at least five corpses, reporting that the blasts went off near a public garden where children and families had been playing and eating breakfast.

“Civilians and members of the military were martyred and wounded in the terrorist explosions that targeted Aleppo,” he said.

Concrete rubble filled the streets, as bulldozers cleared away the wreckage. No emergency vehicles or ambulances were visible in the footage.

Like Aleppo, the country’s capital of Damascus has been a stronghold for embattled President Bashar al-Assad and has been practically untouched by the 11-month long uprising that analysts say is on the brink of civil war. The last attack on the capital happened on Jan. 6 when a suicide attacker reportedly killed 26 people.

In December 2011, 44 people were reportedly killed in twin suicide bombings that targeted intelligence agency compounds in Damascus.

Meanwhile, back in the restive city of Homs this morning, it has started raining as the shelling by Pro-Assad forces continues. Activists say yesterday’s violence left over 100 people dead, and they expect today to be worse.

[Warning: Graphic footage]

Source: Syria State TV