Blast in northern Syria kills at least 44

Islamic State claims responsibility

At least 44 people were killed and 140 injured Wednesday in an explosion in the northern Syrian town of Qamishli near the Turkish border, Syrian state media reported.

Syrian state TV reported two bombs went off, while SANA news agency said a car bomb was used in the attack.

The bomb went off near Kurdish security headquarters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human rights, a monitoring group based in Britain.

The Islamic State extremist group, which has carried out previous bombings against Kurds in the area, claimed responsibility for the attack, the BBC reported.

State TV showed pictures of widespread destruction that it reported was caused by the explosion.

SANA quoted medical sources in the city as saying many of the wounded sustained severe injuries, raising the likelihood that the death toll will increase.

A witness said the blast was so powerful it shattered windows in stores in Nusaybin, the Turkish town directly across the border, Reuters reported.

SANA HANDOUT, EPA A bombed out building smolders following an explosion Wednesday in Qamishli, Syria. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.