A/HRC/45/31 and a market in the city of Afrin, about 150 metres from a Syrian National Army site. Three men and two children were killed, and another seven men were injured. A pharmacy and several commercial shops were damaged. Information obtained by the Commission indicates the use of 122 mm rockets fired from a BM-21 “Grad” multiple-barrel rocket launcher system. 41. The previous month, on 10 February, at approximately 7 p.m., a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device was detonated on Rajo Street in central Afrin, killing 6 civilians and injuring 11 others. 42. Also on Rajo Street, in a particularly grave attack, at least 41 civilians were killed, including 11 children, 43 and 61 others were wounded, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device on a truck was detonated in a crowded market on 28 April. Imagery and video footage analysed by the Commission indicates possible use of an ammonium nitrate fuel oil explosive substance, detonated from inside the truck, likely mixed with additives thus optimizing the incendiary effects emanating from the explosion. 43. Witnesses described the market area as civilian in nature, located some 500 metres from the building of the Turkish governor (wali), and known to be busy between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Information obtained by the Commission suggests that Syrian National Army brigades, including Sultan Murad, Ahrar Sharqiya and Jabhat Shamiya, were headquartered on Rajo Street at the time of the attack. 44. Several civilian houses adjacent to the market, and vehicles parked nearby, were also destroyed, as were numerous shops. Interviewees described seeing large-scale destruction, burning cars and charred bodies scattered along Rajo Street. One doctor who treated victims recalled that many had suffered second-degree burns. The DNA samples of at least 25 unidentifiable bodies were sent by the Afrin central hospital, which is administrated by the Turkish health ministry, 44 to Turkey for analysis. Following the attacks, standard emergency response and police functions were carried out by the Syrian National Army Military Police, sometimes alongside Turkish officials, who arrived at the scene shortly after the attacks and subsequently inspected, secured and sealed off the areas and collected witness testimonies. Victims requiring specialized medical assistance were transported to hospitals in Turkey.45 Findings 45. With regard to the use of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices in the city of Afrin (see paras. 41–44 above), no party has claimed responsibility for the two attacks. Moreover, while there is insufficient information46 to identify the perpetrator(s) of the two shelling and rocket attacks (see paras. 39–40 above), there are significant indications to conclude that all four of these attacks launched on and in the city of Afrin were carried out by armed group factions or fighters, as opposed to members of State forces. The Commission has reasonable grounds to believe that these four attacks may amount to the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks resulting in death or injury to civilians. Investigations are ongoing. B. Violations outside of the context of hostilities 46. During the period under review, the Commission corroborated repeated patterns of systematic looting and property appropriation47 as well as widespread arbitrary deprivation 42 43 44 45 46 47 10 A/HRC/42/51, para. 56. See www.unicef.org/press-releases/eleven-children-reported-killed-attack-crowded-market-afrin-northern-syria. See the ministry’s 2019 annual report at www.sp.gov.tr/upload/xSPRapor/files/nmy6C+36626_tcsaglik-bakanligi-faaliyet-raporu-2019pdf.pdf. Ibid. The Commission sent requests for information about these incidents to several Member States, as well as to other entities, dated 30 June and 2 July. By the submission deadline of 30 July, one Member State and two other parties had responded. A/HRC/43/57, paras. 39–42; and A/HRC/42/51, paras. 55–58.