Damascus cafe blast kills five as authorities say explosive device was planted
Syrian state television said the blast in central Damascus was caused by an explosive device planted inside a cafe near the Palace of Justice. The health ministry later said five people were killed, raising the toll from earlier reports that several people had been wounded. The explosion took place on Thursday in the Al-Marjah district, on Al-Nasser Street, in one of the capital's busier central areas.
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The incident was first reported as an explosion of unclear origin, but the latest official account says the device was planted at the location. The blast was also heard near the Hejaz railway station and Al-Marjah Square, underlining how widely it was felt across the surrounding district. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspect or group as responsible, and there has been no immediate statement on whether the cafe was deliberately targeted.
The updated death toll gives the blast greater significance because it struck close to a major judicial building and in a densely used commercial zone. Such incidents in central Damascus carry particular weight because the capital remains the seat of Syria's main state institutions and a symbol of public order. The attack also comes as the country's first parliament since the fall of Bashar al-Assad was taking shape, adding to the sense of political transition in the background.
The blast happened a day after interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced 70 legislators who will join 140 chosen in elections over the past eight months. The 210-member parliament is due to hold its first meeting on Monday, when members will be sworn in, according to the head of Syria's electoral committee, Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad. The launch of the legislature is part of a wider effort to draft new laws after decades of autocratic rule under the al-Assad family and a civil war that killed about half a million people.
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The latest official details confirm the location and the death toll, but many questions remain unanswered. It is still not clear who planted the device, whether anyone has been detained, or what security measures have been introduced in the area. Further updates are likely to focus on the condition of any injured survivors and the findings of the investigation into how the explosive device was placed in the cafe.
An explosion inside a cafe in central Damascus injured several people on Thursday, according to state media reports. The blast was reported in the Al-Marjah district, on Al-Nasser Street, in an area close to the Palace of Justice. It was also heard near the Hejaz railway station and Al-Marjah Square, placing the incident in one of the Syrian capital's busier commercial zones.
State news agency SANA said several people were wounded, but did not give an immediate figure. State-run television said the nature of the blast was not immediately clear. Another report said the explosion took place inside the cafe, while the wider area was quickly identified by local media because of its proximity to major landmarks in central Damascus.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion. No group or individual has been publicly identified as responsible, and there was no immediate confirmation of whether the blast was accidental or deliberate. The lack of clarity over the cause means the incident remains under active official review.
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The blast matters because it struck a densely used part of the Syrian capital, near courts, transport links and commercial streets. Even without a confirmed toll, an explosion in this area is likely to raise concern about public safety and security in central Damascus. It also comes at a time when any violent incident in the capital can have wider significance because of the city's symbolic and administrative role.
Damascus has remained a focal point for state institutions throughout years of conflict in Syria, and the Palace of Justice is one of the city's key legal landmarks. The Hejaz area and Al-Marjah district are part of the capital's historic and commercial centre, where movement is usually heavy and public visibility is high. An incident in this setting can therefore affect not only those directly injured, but also confidence in the security of everyday urban life.
The reports available so far are limited to the location, the fact that several people were wounded, and the opening of an investigation. There has been no official statement on the number of casualties, the extent of injuries, or whether the cafe was targeted. The cause of the blast remains the central unanswered question.
What happens next will depend on whether investigators identify an explosive device, an accident, or another explanation. Further official updates are likely to focus on the condition of the injured and any security measures taken in the surrounding district. For now, the incident remains a developing story in central Damascus, with the main facts still being established.
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