UNIPA News(Damascus)03 July-At least nine people were killed and 20 others injured in a bomb blast at a cafe near the Palace of Justice in central Damascus on Thursday, Syrian authorities said, marking the deadliest attack in the capital since a church suicide bombing last year.

According to Syrian state media, the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted inside the cafe. The Interior Ministry said the device contained metal fragments, resulting in severe casualties and extensive damage to the surrounding area.

The blast occurred in a busy district near one of the capital’s key government buildings, prompting a large emergency response. Security forces sealed off the area while ambulances transported the wounded to nearby hospitals.

Authorities said investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and collecting forensic evidence to identify those responsible. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Damascus Governor Maher Eldibi said an investigation had been launched and vowed that those behind the bombing would be held accountable. He described the attack as an attempt to undermine the country’s stability.

The bombing comes as Syria’s government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, continues efforts to restore security and consolidate control after years of conflict.

The attack is the deadliest in Damascus since a suicide bombing on a church in June 2025 that killed 25 people. Syrian authorities blamed that attack on the ISIS group.

Several countries, including Türkiye, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, and Egypt, condemned Thursday’s bombing. The Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council also denounced the attack, describing it as a terrorist act.