Explosive device detonates in Damascus cafe near Palace of Justice, killing at least 9 and wounding more than 20

An explosive device detonated in a crowded cafe in central Damascus on Thursday, killing at least nine people and wounding more than 20 others, according to Syria’s Health Ministry and international news reports. The attack occurred near the main courthouse complex, with the Palace of Justice described as being close to the blast site, in an area frequented by lawyers, courthouse employees and visitors.

AP reported that Syrian security inspected the scene after the explosion, and that no group had claimed responsibility as of the time of its reporting. The AP account also said Syria’s Health Ministry put the death toll at at least nine, with additional casualties wounded.

International Business Times, citing reporting from the region, placed the blast in the al-Marjah district on al-Nasser Street around 3:24 p.m. local time and said the cafe was roughly tens of meters from the Palace of Justice entrance. That report also said Syrian state television described the blast as caused by an explosive device.

Accounts from witnesses included in international reporting described people lying on the floor and blood at the scene, as emergency responders evacuated the wounded to hospitals. Other coverage described the courthouse area as busy because of ongoing proceedings nearby, underscoring how the attack struck people congregating for public legal business.

With the immediate casualty figures remaining under review across outlets, authorities cordoned off the area and began collecting evidence, including surveillance footage from streets and surrounding facilities, according to international reporting cited by AP and other outlets. Al Jazeera reporting cited in the International Business Times account said officials were reviewing government and private surveillance footage to identify those responsible.

As of Thursday evening, multiple reports said no organization had publicly claimed responsibility for the bombing. The attack drew attention to security around major government facilities and public-access areas in the capital, particularly where legal proceedings are conducted.

Investigators are expected to continue forensic review and witness interviews, while authorities weigh next steps for protecting courthouse-adjacent public spaces. The incident also raises immediate questions for Syrian authorities about enforcement capacity and monitoring of threats in and around facilities associated with trials of senior figures from the former government, as described in international reporting.