Video purports to show attack on Syria intel HQ

A video published online purports to show today’s attack on a Syrian security building in the northern city of Aleppo.

http://youtu.be/t-686wNh4Sk

The large explosion set off heavy clashes between insurgents, believed to be from the al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front and other groups, and government troops. The attack killed dozens, according to two monitor groups.

The Aleppo Media Center and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights say the massive blast hit a branch of the Air Force Intelligence in the Zahra district on the western edge of the city. Air Force Intelligence is one of the most feared security services in the country.

The Observatory say the assault began with the rebels detonating explosives placed in a tunnel dug under the security branch. Rebels have used similar tunnel bombs in the past.

“Part of the building was destroyed. This was a very big explosion. People very far away could hear it,” Observatory director Rami Abdurrahman says. “Clashes are still taking place. The Syrian regime is hitting the area with airstrikes.”

There was no information from Syrian state media about the blast.

— AP contributed to this report.