A bomb blast strikes a crowded cafe in central Damascus on Thursday, killing at least five people and injuring others, according to Syrian authorities and state media. Multiple outlets citing Syrian state reporting give slightly different casualty figures, with some reporting five dead and 10 injured, while others report five dead and 16 injured, and at least six dead with higher injury totals. Syrian state television says the explosion is caused by an explosive device and that a bomb was planted at the cafe. The cafe is located near the Palace of Justice, a key government building, and the blast triggers panic in the area, with reports of people seeking assistance or leaving the scene.
So far, no group immediately claims responsibility in the accounts provided. The reporting also notes the incident occurs in a security context in which Damascus remains vulnerable to attacks, with one outlet describing it as the deadliest bombing since a suicide attack on a church last year. Authorities do not provide additional immediate details beyond the location and the casualty toll reported through official health and media sources.
