In brief
A mysterious explosive device ripped through a central Damascus café, killing six civilians and wounding 22 others. The blast occurred a mere 100 metres from the Palace of Justice, raising concerns over the security of government precincts. No group claimed responsibility, but authorities suspect Islamic State involvement and invoke memory of the 2025 church attack. Syrian officials vowed to bring perpetrators to justice as the country continues to grapple with sectarian violence after the fall of the Assad regime.
A bomb exploded in a crowded café in central Damascus, killing six people and injuring 22 others, according to Syrian state media. The incident took place only 100 metres from the Palace of Justice in the city’s Hejaz district.
The Interior Ministry said an explosive device was planted inside the café, but no group has yet claimed responsibility. Analysts suspect the Islamic State (IS) group, following a pattern seen in the 2025 suicide attack on a church that left 25 dead, for which a shadowy jihadist group — Saraya Ansar al‑Sunnah — had claimed responsibility; authorities blamed IS for that attack.
"I felt a strong pressure and the whole place shook," said Mohammed al‑Dahabi, owner of a nearby glasses shop. "I ran to the place and saw people lying on the floor with blood pooled around them everywhere," he told AFP.
Graphic footage posted on social media showed at least two men lying motionless on the café’s terrace. The Governor of Damascus, Maher Marwan Idlibi, vowed that those responsible would be punished and warned that stability is fragile whenever “malicious parties” try to destabilise the country.
Since the collapse of Bashar Al‑Assad’s regime in December 2024, Syria has experienced several deadly sectarian clashes. Interim President Ahmed al‑Sharaa faces the challenge of consolidating control over the nation and restoring security while avoiding renewed conflict between the Alawite and Druze communities.
The blast adds to a series of attacks in Damascus that have threatened the city’s fragile peace. Read more about the 2025 church bombing here.
