Damascus, Syria — At least six people were killed and 22 others injured after a bomb exploded inside a café in central Damascus on Thursday, Syrian authorities said, marking the deadliest attack in the capital since last year’s suicide bombing at a church.
The explosion occurred near the Palace of Justice, one of the city’s key government buildings, sending panic through the busy district as emergency crews and security forces rushed to the scene. Authorities said the blast was caused by an explosive device planted inside the café. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
An AFP correspondent at the scene reported ambulances racing through traffic with sirens blaring as security forces sealed off the area and launched rescue operations.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and devastation following the explosion.
Nour Khayyat, who owns a nearby solar battery shop, said he heard a powerful blast around 3:00 p.m. local time that shook surrounding buildings.
“The storefront shook violently. People rushed toward the café and immediately called ambulances,” he said.
Mohammed al-Dahabi, the owner of a neighboring eyewear store, recalled seeing victims lying on the ground amid pools of blood.
“I felt a strong wave of pressure, and the whole place shook. When I ran outside, I saw people lying on the floor covered in blood. It brought back memories of the bombings during the civil war,” he said.
Damascus Governor Maher Eldibi visited the scene shortly after the attack and confirmed that an investigation had been launched.
“Those responsible for this bloodshed will be punished,” Eldibi said, adding that hostile elements were attempting to undermine Syria’s fragile stability.
“Every time the country experiences a period of calm, malicious parties seek to destabilize it,” he said.
The bombing presents another major security challenge for Syria’s Islamist-led government, which has been attempting to restore order and rebuild state institutions following the overthrow of longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Since overthrowing the Assad dynasty in a lightning insurgency in December 2024, Syria’s new rulers have intensified operations against militants linked to the extremist Islamic State (IS) group in an effort to prevent attacks in and around the capital.
During the Syrian uprising that erupted in 2011 and evolved into a prolonged civil war, President Ahmed al-Sharaa led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda. Since assuming power, however, al-Sharaa has pledged to protect Syrians of all religious and ethnic backgrounds while rebuilding state institutions and restoring national unity.
His administration has re-established government authority across most of Syria, reclaiming territory from extremist organizations and Kurdish-led forces. Despite these gains, security threats remain a significant challenge as the government works to stabilize the country after more than a decade of conflict.
Damascus has continued to witness sporadic attacks despite
improved security. The deadliest in recent months occurred in June 2025, when a suicide bombing at a church killed 25 worshippers. Syrian authorities blamed the attack on the so-called Islamic State, although it was later claimed by a Sunni Islamist militant group.
More recently, a Syrian soldier was killed in a car bombing in Damascus’s historic Old City in May, underscoring the persistent threat posed by militant groups despite the end of large-scale fighting.
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