Victims of Reyhanlı bombings commemorated

HATAY – Doğan News Agency

52 people were killed and 140 were injured in the attack. DHA Photo

A commemoration ceremony was held on May 11 for the 52 people who were killed in the twin car bomb that hit the southern province of Hatay last year.

On May 11, 2013, two car bombs exploded in the town of Reyhanlı, in the province of Hatay, located in the far south of Turkey close to the Syrian border. In the attack, 52 people were killed and 140 were injured.
The bombing was the deadliest single act of terrorism that has ever occurred on Turkish soil.

The ceremony was held at the Monument of May 11 Martyrs after relatives of the victims marched to the two spots where the bombs were detonated, where they left flowers.

People chanted slogans saying, “Martyrs are immortal.” and “Our land is indivisible.”

The names of the victims were read loudly and the Turkish national anthem was sung.

The trial opened on Feb. 10 for 33 people accused of involvement in the deadly attack, with prosecutors seeking mammoth life sentences. The suspects face charges of murder, attempted murder and injuring victims over the bombings.