The death toll has been confirmed by Mahmut Togrul, a member of Parliament for Gaziantep from Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), who says that the number of those killed in the attack is now 51.
Antep'teki hain saldırıda hayatını kaybedenlerin sayısı an itibariyle 51'e yükseldi. #Gaziantep
— Mahmut TOĞRUL (@togrularya) 21 августа 2016 г.
The blast occurred at 10:50 pm local time (1950 GMT) on Saturday in the Beybahce neighborhood of the Sahinbey district of Gaziantep province, according to a statement by the governorship.
Earlier Gaziantep governor Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement that 30 people had been killed and 94 wounded in "an abhorrent terror bomb attack on a wedding" and condemned the “heinous attack” and “assault of hatred”.
"We condemn the traitors who organized and carried out this attack," he said, vowing that those responsible would be "brought to account".
Ali Yerlikaya said ambulances were dispatched to the scene, and dead and wounded people were taken to hospitals.
"We wish God's mercy for those who have lost their lives in this cruel attack, and for the injured, a quick recovery," the statement said.
At least 12 people were buried on Sunday, but other funerals would have to wait because many of the victims were blown to pieces and DNA forensics tests would be needed to identify them, Reuters reports citing some security sources.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that "Daesh is the likely perpetrator of the attack."
“Those, who cannot overcome Turkey and try to provoke people by abusing ethnic and sectarian sensitiveness, will not prevail,” he said in a statement.
“There is no difference between the PKK (the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party) which martyred 70 security personnel last month, the FETO (Fethullah Terrorist Organization led by Fethullah Gülen) as an actor of July 15 coup bid claiming 240 people and Daesh, the likely perpetrator of the Gaziantep terror attack,” he added.
.@RT_Erdogan claims #Daesh can be behind #Gaziantep bombing https://t.co/Xob79vnktj
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) 21 августа 2016 г.
The attack appeared to have hit when a large group of people from a wedding party took to the streets in celebration, a common practice in southern Turkey, especially during the summer, security sources said.
Mehmet Simsek, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister, who also represents Gaziantep in the Turkish Parliament, told broadcaster NTV that the explosion appeared to have been caused by a suicide bomber.
Gaziantep'teki hain saldırıda çok sayıda can kaybı ve yaralı var. Teröre, teröriste ve destekçisine lanet olsun pic.twitter.com/qzOFRxZN8o
— Hasan Cücük (@HasanCucuk) 20 августа 2016 г.
"The aim of terror is to scare the people but we will not allow this," he said.
Spent the night in #Gaziantep following the horrific & shocking terrorist attack. Our message is very simple:
— Mehmet Simsek (@memetsimsek) 21 августа 2016 г.
We will NOT bow to terror!
The explosion took place in the Sahinbey district of the province, which, lying just 60km north of the Syrian border, has become a hub for Syrians fleeing the military conflict in their country.
💥Suicide bomb explosion killed at least 12,wounded >100 in #Gaziantep, where #TUR 2strike #Isil in #Jarablus 2night. pic.twitter.com/0UukwKjYEY
— tahtakuslar (@taylieli) 20 августа 2016 г.
The area is also said to have a large number of Kurdish residents.
Mahmut Togrul, a member of Parliament for Gaziantep from Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) told Reuters it was a Kurdish wedding.
HDP Gaziantep MP @togrularya says bomb attack is against Kurds as wedding owners are HDP members from Siirt who were deliberately targeted
— Mutlu Civiroglu (@mutludc) 20 августа 2016 г.
Daesh has been blamed for suicide bombings on Kurdish gatherings in the past.
The HDP said its members had been present at the wedding, which was also attended by many women and children.
"Our country and our nation have again only one message to those who attack us — you will not succeed!" President Erdogan said in his statement.
Adding that the aim of attacks like Gaziantep was to sow division between different groups in Turkey such as Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen and "spread incitement along ethnic and religious lines".
Turkey would not give in to the "provocation" of the Gaziantep attack and would instead show "unity, togetherness and brotherhood", he stated.
Reports suggest that Turkey's broadcasting regulator RTUK banned broadcast of footage from the scene of the attack in Gaziantep, as it has been the case in previous attacks.
So far, no group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Gazinatep beybahçe mahallesindeki hain saldırıdan sonra, bölge asker ve polisler tarafından ablukaya alındı.#Antep pic.twitter.com/AsxzH8gAUD
— Mahmut TOĞRUL (@togrularya) 21 августа 2016 г.
