DAMASCUS, Syria — The death toll from a bomb explosion at a café in the Syrian capital, Damascus, has risen to 10, with 21 other people injured, according to the country’s Health Ministry.
The blast occurred on Thursday near the Palace of Justice, one of the capital’s key government buildings, sending patrons and pedestrians fleeing as panic spread through the busy commercial area.
Authorities said the explosion was caused by a homemade explosive device weighing about one kilogram and packed with metal fragments to maximise casualties.
The Health Ministry had initially reported that nine people were killed and 20 others injured before revising the figures on Friday.
No individual or group had claimed responsibility for the attack by the time of publication.
The bombing is the deadliest attack recorded in Damascus since a suicide bombing targeted a church in June 2025, killing 25 people.
That attack was later claimed by a Sunni Islamist group, although Syrian authorities attributed it to the Islamic State group.
Security agencies have launched investigations into Thursday’s explosion as forensic teams continue examining the scene.
The latest attack comes as Syria’s government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, continues efforts to consolidate control following the overthrow of longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Since the change in government, authorities have sought to restore security and reunify the country, although Damascus has continued to experience sporadic attacks and security incidents.
In May this year, a soldier was killed in a car bombing in the capital’s Old City, underscoring the persistent security challenges facing the new administration.
The café bombing is expected to heighten concerns over public safety in Damascus as authorities intensify efforts to identify those responsible and prevent further attacks.