In brief
A bomb detonated inside a busy café in central Damascus has killed six people and wounded 22 others, according to Syrian state media. The explosion occurred just 100 metres from the Palace of Justice in the Hejaz district, with authorities noting no group has claimed responsibility. It stands as the most lethal bombing in the city since a 2025 church assault that killed 25. The incident has reignited concerns about security following a period of instability after the civil war’s end in 2024. Officials pledged to crack down on those responsible amid ongoing sectarian tensions.
A bomb detonated within a crowded café in central Damascus has killed six people and wounded 22 others, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry.
The café, located only 100 metres from the Palace of Justice in the Hejaz district, was the target of an explosive device planted inside the premises.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, leaving authorities to investigate whether it was carried out by the Islamic State or another extremist faction. Earlier this year, the city experienced a similar deadly bombing at a church that killed 25 people.
The site was shown in graphic video footage shared on social media, where at least two men were seen lying motionless on the café’s outdoor terrace.
Damascus Governor Maher Marwan Idlibi visited the scene and vowed that those who carried out the violence would be held accountable. He noted that periods of stability in the country are often disrupted by malicious actors seeking to destabilise the regime.
This bombing follows a series of assaults in Damascus since the end of the civil war in December 2024, as the interim President Ahmed al‑Sharaa continues to work on consolidating national control and restoring security. The country remains grappling with sectarian clashes involving Alawite and Druze communities.
