At least 18 people have been killed in a car bomb in Syria near the Turkish border, according to Turkish Defence Ministry.

The attack happened in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, which is currently controlled by Turkish-backed opposition fighters.

The number of casualties is disputed.

The Turkish Defence Ministry accused Syrian Kurdish fighters of carrying out the attack. The ministry said 18 people died and more than 15 have been wounded.

The activist-run Aleppo Media Centre said 15 people were killed and the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 19 people, including nine civilians had died.


However, Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency provided much higher numbers, saying 18 people were killed and at least 30 others were wounded in the attack.

The agency reported that several cars and buildings had been damaged.

No group has yet come forward to say it is behind the attack, which took place near a bus station.

In October, Turkey began to move into the north of Syria.

Kurdish fighters have been forced out and Russia has began patrols of the border, as part of an agreement with Turkey.

Al-Bab was seized by Turkish forces in 2016.