ANKARA: Turkey denied on Saturday that militants from the Islamic State have launched an attack on the border town of Kobani from its territory, an official statement said.

The statement from the Turkish prime minister’s office said that “it is known that the terrorist group has been attacking too many places simultaneously in Kobani and also to Mursitpinar border gate since this morning.” It added: “One of these attacks was made in the Syrian side of the border by a bomb-laden vehicle.

The allegation that the vehicle in the mentioned attack reached the border gate through Turkish land is definitely a lie.”

The assault began with a suicide attack by a bomber in an armored vehicle on the border crossing between Kobani and Turkey, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Nawaf Khalil, a spokesman for Syria’s powerful Kurdish Democratic Union Party.

The Islamic State group “used to attack the town from three sides,” Khalil said. “Today, they are attacking from four sides.”

Associated Press journalists saw thick black smoke rise over Kobani amid the attack. The sound of heavy gunfire echoed through the surrounding hills as armored vehicles took up positions on the border

The Observatory said heavy fighting also took place southwest of the town where the IS brought in tanks to reinforce their fighters.