JINHA

NEWS CENTER – After an explosion last night in the city of Hesekê, in Rojava, killed 25, inter-canton coordinators have canceled the Newroz celebrations in the canton of Cizirê. Newroz is going ahead in Kobanê.

Two separate explosions in the Muftî neighborhood of the city of Hesekê killed at least 25 people, wounding 70. The first explosion, which took place yesterday around 6 p.m. at the Martyrs Square of the Muftî neighborhood, killed five. A second attack on the PDK-S (Democratic Party of Syria) building 300 meters away, where Hesekê residents were celebrating Newroz, killed dozens more.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said one of the attacks was carried out by an ISIS suicide bomber.

The Rojava Asayiş (Peacekeeping) forces say they are continuing investigations into the attacks, but from what they know the attacks were carried out by Daesh gangs. They called on the people not to hold Newroz gatherings, for security reasons.

"Our people, who gathered to greet Newroz, the holiday of freedom in Hesekê, fell victim to the attacks of Daesh gangs, the tools of dark forces. These terrorists, knowingly taking our people's national holiday as an opportunity, used an explosive car and suicide attacks to martyr dozens of innocent civilians, most of them children, women and elders. Many more were wounded. As the General Canton Coordinating Body, we condemn these cowardly attacks against our people," said Rojava officials in a statement.

Daesh gangs had been threatening to turn Newroz into a bloodbath. They have beheaded three peshmerga fighters in South Kurdistan, with the threat that they will burn another 21 peshmergas to death if Newroz celebrations go ahead.

“Hasekê and Qamişlo hospitals are flooded with casualties. There is an urgent need for blood,” said Ekrem Hasso, a Rojava official. He added that Kurdish forces are on high alert in much of Rojava for fear of more attacks.

The Efrîn Newroz celebration has also been canceled, with the organizing committee expected to make a statement soon.

(cm)