19 to be tried for the Reyhanlı bombings

ADANA – Anadolu Agency

DAILY NEWS photo/Emrah Gürel

The Adana public prosecutor has demanded life sentences for 19 of the 33 suspects for “killing 52 people and damaging the unity of the state” in the twin car bombs that hit the southern province of Hatay’s Reyhanlı district on the Turkish-Syrian border on May 10.

The indictment demands aggravated life sentences for 19 suspects for “attempting to damage the unity of the state,” aggravated life imprisonment “for killing 52 people,” and an additional 22 year jail term each “for attempting to kill 130 people.”

Fifteen year jail sentences were demanded for another 14 suspects over “membership of a terrorist organization” and for “aiding and abetting [a terrorist organization].”

Two of the suspects, for whom the life sentences are demanded, are Syrian nationals.

The blasts in Reyhanlı were the deadliest cross border attacks since the onset of the Syrian conflict in March 2011.

Twin bombings were carried out in Reyhanlı’s city center on May 11, leaving 52 dead and numerous injured.