Bomb blast at Damascus cafe kills nine, injures 20

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing AFP, a bomb explosion at a cafe near the Justice Palace in Syria’s capital Damascus on Thursday, July 2, killed nine people and injured 20. Syrian state television said the blast was caused by an explosive device planted at the scene, while the Interior Ministry said an improvised explosive device containing metal fragments caused severe casualties and major damage; no group has claimed responsibility. Damascus Governor Maher Marwan Eldibi said an investigation has been launched and those responsible would be punished, and UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Rochdi said the perpetrators must be brought to justice. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and said it would stand in solidarity with Syria, while Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and Egypt, along with the Arab League and the six Gulf Cooperation Council member states, also strongly condemned the bombing.