Explosives and suicide belts seized as group stopped at Turkey-Syria border

Explosives and suicide vests have been seized from the baggage of a group of suspects stopped on Turkey's border with Syria, the Turkish army has said.

According to Agence France-Presse, the army claimed between 12 and 15 kilos of explosives and four belts that "could be for suicide attacks" were found in two bags after a group of 34 people - including 20 children - were stopped in Turkey's south-eastern border town of Karkamis.

The army did not name any terror organisations in its statement, AFP said.

However, Karkamis lies across the border from the Syrian town of Jerabalus, currently controlled by the so-called Islamic State militant group.

A so-called Islamic State flag flies over a border gate in Jarablus, near the Turkish-Syrian border. Credit: Reuters

The seizure comes as tens of thousands of Syrians camp at Oncunipar - around 60 miles along the border - after fleeing fresh waves of violence in nearby Aleppo.

Turkey's deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus said this week that in a "worst case scenario" up to 600,000 refugees could arrive at the border due to the fighting.

The United Nations has urged Turkey to open its borders to Syrians escaping violence, after the refugee camps became overwhelmed with people.