ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—The twin bombs in the Syrian Kurdish city of Qamishli went off in the same area Wednesday morning.
Both bombs targeted the Gharbi neighborhood of the city.
According to eyewitnesses the second bomb went off when rescue teams, security forces and health workers rushed to the scene.
The first bomb is believed to have been an explosive-laden truck.
At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 wounded. More than 15 homes and 30 stores were also demolished by the blasts.
According to journalist Idris Ali the truck bomb attack targeted the main security building of the Kurdish forces located on Amuda road.
The neighborhood is also home to some of the Kurdish autonomous region’s ministries and the offices of the Democratic Union Party (PYD).
“It was a massive explosion,” Ali told Rudaw by telephone from Qamishli. “The bang was heard across Qamishli.”
Ali said there were rumors of car bombs having infiltrated the city a few days before the attack, “but people kept saying it is just rumors. It is like that everyday.”
“Every hospital is receiving the wounded,” Ali reported.
The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the truck bomb attack two hours after the explosion. The group made no mention of the second bomb.
Qamishli is the largest Kurdish city in Syria and the main capital of the Rojava administration.
PYD security forces known as Asayish are in charge of policing. The Syrian regime also maintains symbolic presence in the city.
