At least six killed in bombing at crowded Damascus cafe near courthouse

A bomb blast tore through a crowded cafe in central Damascus on Thursday, killing at least six people and wounding 22. The explosion happened in the al-Hijaz area on Al-Nasr Street, about 100 metres from the main entrance to the Palace of Justice. Security officials said the attack took place in one of the Syrian capital's busiest public areas, close to a courthouse that has been handling high-profile cases.

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Officials said a person entered the cafe, placed an improvised explosive device under a table and left before the blast. Security sources said the attacker may have intended to continue towards the courthouse area to carry out further violence. The Commander of Internal Security in Damascus, Osama Atika, and Interior Ministry officers arrived at the scene soon after the explosion to begin an investigation.

Authorities also said some of the wounded being treated at Al-Mouwasa Hospital had severe injuries, raising concern that the death toll could rise. The cafe was popular with lawyers, courthouse employees and visitors, according to reporting from the scene. That location helps explain why the blast caused so many casualties, with officials saying the area was busy at the time.

Damascus governor Maher Marwan said "bad actors" were trying to destabilise the country, and he warned that those responsible would be held to account. No group had claimed responsibility at the time of reporting. The attack comes as Syria's new authorities try to impose security after the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad's government in December 2024.

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Analysts cited by local reporting said the bombing may reflect opposition to the country's political transition and to the trials now taking place at the Palace of Justice. The courthouse has been hearing cases involving figures from the former government, including Atef Najib, the former security chief accused of torturing schoolboys in Deraa in 2011, as well as militia commander Wassim al-Assad and former Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun. The bombing is significant because it struck a symbolic and heavily used part of the capital, near a major judicial building and in an area associated with the new state's efforts to assert control.

It also highlights the security challenge facing the authorities as they seek to prevent attacks in central Damascus. The incident may intensify scrutiny of protection around courts and other public institutions, especially where politically sensitive trials are under way. What remains unclear is who carried out the attack and whether the intended target was the cafe itself or the courthouse area nearby.

Officials have not yet given a final account of the device or the motive, and the number of casualties could still change if more of the wounded deteriorate. The next developments to watch are any claim of responsibility, further details from the investigation, and whether the authorities announce new security measures around the Palace of Justice.

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