At least 22 people have been killed and over a hundred wounded in two terrorist blasts in a residential area of the Syrian city of Homs, state TV reported. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to provincial Governor Talal al-Barazi, two explosions occurred with a difference of a few minutes in the residential area of Al-Zahra. He said at first a car stuffed with explosives was blown up, parked in a densely populated quarter, then almost on the same spot a suicide bomber blew himself up.
Barazi said "the aim of the terrorists was the checkpoint of the Syrian security forces." He added that "among the dead there were several on duty policemen at the checkpoint, but most of the victims are civilians."
The explosions have caused damage to residential buildings and infrastructure of the neighborhood, SANA correspondent reported.
Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to Reuters, the terrorist group said in an online statement that one of its fighters drove a car loaded with explosives to a security checkpoint in the Al-Zahra neighborhood and blew himself up.
Late last month two terrorist attacks hit the Al-Zahra area, killing 19 civilians and injuring over 40.