At Least Nine Killed in Explosion at Central Damascus Cafe

At Least Nine Killed in Explosion at Central Damascus Cafe
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At least nine people were killed and 20 others wounded after an explosion struck a busy cafe in central Damascus, Syria’s Ministry of Health said.

The blast occurred on Thursday afternoon inside a cafe on al-Nasser Street in the al-Marjah district, near the Palace of Justice, according to Syrian state media. State television said the explosion was caused by an explosive device.

Footage from the scene showed severe damage inside the cafe, while security forces cordoned off the area amid concerns over a possible second explosion. Residents reportedly helped provide first aid to the wounded before ambulances arrived.

Authorities have launched an investigation and are reviewing surveillance cameras from the area to identify those responsible.

The Palace of Justice, located close to the site of the blast, has recently hosted trials of senior figures from the former al-Assad government. Damascus officials said the area was crowded at the time of the explosion because of nearby markets and court activity.

Damascus Governor Maher Marwan said the capital’s security situation had improved in recent months, but warned that some groups were seeking to destabilize the country. Authorities said the death toll could rise.