Syria civil war: Car bomb kills 20 after Red Cross workers kidnapped

 

The bombs can explode anywhere, at any time. But after two years of civil war, Syria's unpredictable violence can still horrify.

At least 20 people were killed, including a child, when a car bomb exploded Monday in northwestern Syria, opposition activists said.

The blast rocked the Idlib province town of Darkush, on the border with Turkey, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The death toll is expected to rise because dozens are wounded, including some in critical condition, the opposition group said.

Red Cross: Seven aid workers kidnapped; four released

Even humanitarian workers aren't safe in the country.

On Sunday, gunmen kidnapped seven aid workers in northwestern Syria, officials said. Four of them -- three from the Red Cross and one from the Syrian Red Crescent -- were released "safe and sound" Monday, said Ewan Watson, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Watson said he'd have no details about the freed workers' identities or current location until the other three workers are freed.

All seven were snatched in Idlib province, where they were trying to deliver medical supplies.
The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said a terrorist group opened fire on the workers' vehicle and then abducted them.

ICRC spokesman Simon Schorno said his agency has been in contact with various armed groups to try to find the kidnapped workers, but it's still unclear who might have them.

"It's very difficult to say precisely at this point," Schorno said Monday. "There are lots of rumors flying around, and we don't really want to speculate."

But the kidnappings won't deter the Red Cross from continuing its work in the war-torn country.
"There is no intention for the Red Cross to stop its action in Syria," Schorno said. "In fact, the needs are just humongous in this country."