Suruc explosion: Activists targeted in Turkey border town

An explosion has killed at least 27 people and wounded nearly 100 in the Turkish town of Suruc near the Syrian border, the interior ministry says.

The blast occurred in the garden of a cultural centre at about 10:00 am. Hundreds of youth workers were reportedly staying there.

Officials are investigating the possibility it was a suicide bombing.

Suruc, located near the Syrian town of Kobane, houses many refugees who fled fighting there in recent months.

Kobane has been a battleground between militants from the Islamic State (IS) group and Kurdish fighters since September last year, when IS overran the town, forcing most of its residents to flee into Turkey.

The Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF) is reported to have had at least 300 members staying at the Amara Culture Centre to take part in rebuilding work in Kobane.

Graphic images of the scene immediately after the blast were tweeted by the federation.

A photo taken prior to the blast showed the group in the garden having lunch.