In brief
Syrian state media reported a bomb explosion in a crowded café in central Damascus, killing six people and injuring a dozen others. The device was planted inside the café, only 100 metres from the Palace of Justice in the Hejaz district. No group has claimed responsibility, but the incident marks the most lethal attack in the capital in more than a year. Authorities have vowed to bring those responsible to justice, as the city struggles to maintain stability after the 2024 uprising against Bashar al‑Assad. The blast evokes memories of past violence during the civil war and underscores the ongoing threat to civilians in Syria.
Bomb blast in Damascus café kills six, injures 22
Syrian state media said a bomb detonated in a crowded café in central Damascus, killing six people and leaving 22 others injured. The explosion occurred only 100 metres from the Palace of Justice in the city’s Hejaz district, heightening the shock to a government heartland.
According to investigators, an explosive device had been planted inside the café before the blast. No group or organisation has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, leaving local authorities to maintain that the perpetrators will be identified and punished swiftly.
This incident marks the deadliest bombing in Damascus since a suicide attack on a church in June 2025, which claimed the lives of 25 people. While a shadowy jihadist group—Saraya Ansar al‑Sunnah—had previously claimed responsibility for that event, state officials blamed the Islamic State network for the café attack.
Mohammed al‑Dahabi, owner of a nearby glasses shop, recalled the terror of striking the café: "I felt strong pressure, and the whole place shook," he told AFP. "I ran to the place and saw people lying on the floor with blood pooled around them everywhere."
Graphic footage from social media displayed several men lying motionless on the café’s outdoor terrace. Damascus Governor Maher Marwan Idlibi pledged that those responsible would be brought to justice, stating, "Each time the country sees a period of stability, malicious parties try to destabilise it."
Since the power of Islamist‑led rebels overthrew Bashar al‑Assad in December 2024, the city has witnessed a spate of violent incidents, including sectarian clashes between government forces and members of Syria’s Alawite and Druze communities. Interim President Ahmed al‑Sharaa remains engaged in efforts to consolidate national control and restore security across the country.
