Booby-Trapped Truck Blast Claims 37 Lives, Wounds Scores Near Hama

HAMA, (ST)-Thirty people were martyred and scores were wounded when a booby-trapped truck went off near an agricultural vehicle company at the outskirts of the central city of Hama.

According to an official source, a terrorist suicide bomber during the early hours of Sunday blew himself up in a booby-trapped truck carrying about 1.5 tons of explosives at the eastern entrance of Hama.

The violent explosion claimed the lives of 37 civilians and wounded tens of people, the source said, adding that the number of casualties is expected to rise as many people have had serious injuries.  

The source pointed out that the blast occurred in a busy area when a truck loaded with gas cylinders for domestic use was passing by. As a result, the gas cylinders exploded causing huge damage to more than 20 cars, a number of shops and houses at the site.

H. Mustafa