A powerful explosion tore through a crowded cafe in the central Hejaz district of Damascus on Thursday, killing at least nine people and injuring 20 others, Syrian state media reported. State-run Al-Ikhbariya television and the official SANA news agency initially reported a large blast of unknown origin before later confirming that a bomb had detonated inside the establishment.
Emergency response teams and numerous ambulances rapidly converged on the busy neighborhood, weaving through heavy traffic to transport the wounded to local medical centers. Security forces cordoned off the surrounding streets as forensic experts launched an active investigation to determine the exact nature of the explosive device and identify the perpetrators.
The attack took place on the same day Syrian and Lebanese officials signed an agreement in Beirut aimed at improving cross-border cooperation. Authorities have not reported any claim of responsibility.
