Twenty-seven people were killed on Monday in a "terrorist attack" in the Turkish town of Suruc near the border with Syria, the interior ministry said.

"A terrorist attack took place in the town of Suruc in Sanliurfa today (Monday) around 12 pm local time (0900 GMT)," the interior ministry said in a statement.

"Twenty-seven citizens lost their lives according to initial findings," it said, warning that fatalities might increase.

Nearly 100 people were injured and treated in hospitals in the region, it said.

"We are calling on all for common sense in the face of this terrorist attack targeting our country's unity," the ministry said.