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| At least 25 people killed in Damascus suicide bombing, reports say | At least 25 people killed in Damascus suicide bombing, reports say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 25 people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a courthouse in Damascus, state media reported – the second such attack in the Syrian capital in five days. | At least 25 people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a courthouse in Damascus, state media reported – the second such attack in the Syrian capital in five days. |
| The attack on Wednesday targeted the Palace of Justice in central Damascus, not far from the old city and the famous Hamidiyeh market. State news agency Sana said a number of people were wounded. | The attack on Wednesday targeted the Palace of Justice in central Damascus, not far from the old city and the famous Hamidiyeh market. State news agency Sana said a number of people were wounded. |
| The bomber set off his explosive device after police tried to stop him from entering the building, Ahmed al-Sayyid, a senior state legal official told al-Ikhbariya TV. | The bomber set off his explosive device after police tried to stop him from entering the building, Ahmed al-Sayyid, a senior state legal official told al-Ikhbariya TV. |
| “This is a dirty action as people who enter the palace are innocent,” he said, noting that the timing of the explosion appeared to have been planned to kill the largest number of lawyers, judges and other people who were there at the time. | |
| Ambulances rushed to the scene to transfer casualties to hospital. | |
| “We were terrified because the sound of the explosion was enormous,” a lawyer in the building during the attack told AFP. | “We were terrified because the sound of the explosion was enormous,” a lawyer in the building during the attack told AFP. |
| “We took refuge in the library which is on a higher floor,” the lawyer added, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was a bloody scene.” | “We took refuge in the library which is on a higher floor,” the lawyer added, speaking on condition of anonymity. It was a bloody scene.” |
| According to Damascus police chief Mohammad Kheir Ismail, the attacker struck in the early afternoon at 1.20 p.m. A man wearing a military uniform and carrying a shotgun and grenades arrived at the entrance to the palace, the police chief told state TV. | |
| The bombing comes on the sixth anniversary of the Syrian conflict, which began with anti-government demonstrations in March 2011. | The bombing comes on the sixth anniversary of the Syrian conflict, which began with anti-government demonstrations in March 2011. |
| No further details were immediately available. There has been no claim of responsibility. | No further details were immediately available. There has been no claim of responsibility. |
| On Saturday, scores of people, most of them Iraqi Shia pilgrims, were killed in a double suicide bombing in Damascus claimed by an alliance of jihadi groups known as Tahrir al-Sham. | On Saturday, scores of people, most of them Iraqi Shia pilgrims, were killed in a double suicide bombing in Damascus claimed by an alliance of jihadi groups known as Tahrir al-Sham. |
| Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report. |