Syrian airstrike hits a bakery; kills nearly 200 people, injures 100 more

Human rights groups accuse military of intentional attacks on civilians.

12:57 26 December 2012

Nearly 200 people were killed and almost 100 more were injured in one of Syria’s deadliest air strikes that hit a local bakery.

 

Videos showed hundreds of blood-stained, dust-coated bodies lined up among piles of rubble and shrapnel.

Victims were reportedly queuing for bread for hours when the air strike happened.

 

Due to shortages of flour and fuel, bread production was erratic at best across the country and people often needed to wait for hours to get loaves.

"We hadn't received flour in around three days so everyone was going to the bakery today, and lots of them were women and children," said Samer al-Hamawi, an activist in the town of Halfaya, where the strike hit a bakery.

Rami Abdelrahman, of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said: 'It is still very unclear what the casualties are ... From looking at the videos I expect the death toll to be around or above 50, and not higher than 100. But for now I am keeping my estimate at dozens killed until we have more information."