Damascus café explosion kills 9 as investigations continue
Authorities say the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device as security forces widen investigations and urge the public to rely on official information.
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The Syrian Ministry of Interior said in a statement about the explosion that targeted a café on Al Nasr Street near the Palace of Justice in Damascus that the blast happened at 3 p.m., about 70 meters west of the Palace of Justice. It killed 9 civilians and injured 20 others and caused material damage at the scene.
The ministry said on Friday that initial investigations showed the explosion was caused by a locally made improvised explosive device weighing about one kilogram, filled with metal fragments, which led to serious injuries and significant damage.
It added that security forces immediately cordoned off the area after the blast. Engineering teams and K9 units conducted careful searches to make sure the area was free of any additional threats.
It stated that evidence collection teams from the Criminal Investigations Department immediately began their work after the explosion occurred. They gathered forensic evidence, reviewed surveillance camera footage, and took statements from witnesses and people present in the vicinity of the incident, as part of investigations aimed at uncovering the circumstances of the crime and identifying those who carried it out as well as anyone behind it.
The ministry confirmed that the investigations are still ongoing, noting that any updates or results will be announced through the official channels of the Ministry of Interior once verified.
It also urged citizens and media outlets not to be drawn into rumors or circulate unverified information, and to rely on official statements issued by the ministry as the authorized source of information regarding this case.
It stressed that the perpetrators of this terrorist act, and anyone behind it, will be pursued and brought to justice, and that no one involved will escape accountability. It reaffirmed that state institutions will continue to carry out their duty to protect the security and stability of citizens.
The explosion that targeted a café in Damascus on Thursday resulted in the death of nine civilians and the injury of 20 others. It was met with widespread Arab and international condemnation, which emphasized solidarity with Syria in confronting all forms of terrorism.