April 16 (UPI) — Human rights monitors from Syria said Sunday the death toll from the bombing targeting evacuees leaving two Syrian towns has risen to 112.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 112 people were killed as a result of the Saturday bombing, which targeted a convoy of buses carrying evacuees from two towns held by President Bashar al-Assad‘s regime that have recently been under siege by rebel fighters.
The explosion reportedly occurred toward the front of the 70-bus convoy.
The evacuees, from the Shia villages of Al-Fu’ah and Kafriy, were being taken to regime-held towns as part of an agreement between the warring factions. People were also being evacuated at the same time from two rebel-held towns as part of the “Four Towns Agreement” between the regime and the rebels.
Syria Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, said the bombing in the Aleppo suburb of Rashidin injured 55 people in addition to the fatalities.
The undamaged buses from the convoy continued Saturday and arrived in the evening at a temporary housing center in the Jebrin area of Aleppo.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast, which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said occurred when a suicide bomber who claimed to be carrying food items detonated and explosive device at a fuel station.
Rebel group Ahrar al-Sham said members observing the convoy to ensure its safe passage were among those killed in the bombing. The group said it is investigating the blast to try to determine who was responsible.
