People gather at a blast site in Sahinbey District of Gaziantep province, Turkey, Aug. 20, 2016. A blast occurred near a wedding hall here at 22:40 local time (1940 GMT) on Saturday, leaving at least eight people killed and over 60 injured, security sources told local media. (Xinhua/Mert Macit)
ANKARA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A blast occurred near a wedding hall in Sahinbey District of southeastern Turkish province of Gaziantep on Saturday night, killing at least 22 people and injuring 94 others, Gaziantep Governor's Office confirmed early Sunday.
Samil Tayyar, deputy of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said on twitter that the attack was carried out by Islamic States terrorist group.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said that the explosion may have been caused by a suicide attack, adding that the death toll might be higher than reported.
Ambulances and police were dispatched to the area following the attack.
Local media reported that the blast occurred at 22:40 local time (1940 GMT) in a mainly Kurdish-inhabited neighborhood of the city, while local reporters and officials said that the family hosting the wedding is from eastern Turkey.
