44 killed in car bomb explosion in northern Syria

Syria: At least 44 people have been killed and dozens injured in a twin car bombing that struck a crowd in Qamishlia, a predominantly Kurdish town in Syria's north on Wednesday.

Syria's state-run TV reports says the car blew up on the western edge of the town of Qamishli, near the Turkish border which was followed by an explosion by an explosive-packed motorcycle a few minutes later in the same area.

According to Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, it says the bomb explosion was targeted at a centre of the local Kurdish police and a nearby government building.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack and has been responsible for several bombings in Kurdish areas in Syria in the past.

The report says the blasts caused huge damage in the area while rescue teams are working to recover victims trapped under the rubble.

Qamishli is mainly controlled by Kurds but Syrian government forces are present and control the city's airport.