Syria: Blast in Damascus kills 7 and injures 16

DAMASCUS (Terror Monitor) — At least seven people were killed and 16 others injured in a bomb blast at a café in the central Hijaz area of Syria’s capital Damascus, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry and state media.

The Syrian Ministry of Health said in its initial statement that seven people had died and 16 were wounded in the explosion.

Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the cause of the blast, and no group or individual has claimed responsibility so far.

Officials said rescue and debris removal operations are ongoing, and warned that the number of casualties could rise as search efforts continue.

Reports indicated that the powerful explosion caused panic in the area and damaged the café as well as several surrounding buildings.

Emergency teams and civil defense units arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and began transferring the injured to nearby hospitals.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to determine the nature of the explosion and its circumstances. A security perimeter has also been established around the Justice Palace area near Nasr Street in Damascus.