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Deadly bus explosion in Damascus | Deadly bus explosion in Damascus |
(9 minutes later) | |
Three people have died in an explosion at a petrol station in the Syrian capital Damascus, officials say. | Three people have died in an explosion at a petrol station in the Syrian capital Damascus, officials say. |
Syrian Interior Minister Said Sammour said the tyre of a bus had exploded as it was being pumped. | |
Footage showed the bus badly damaged by what looked like fire. It was carrying Iranian pilgrims visiting the Sayyida Zeinab shrine for Shia Muslims. | Footage showed the bus badly damaged by what looked like fire. It was carrying Iranian pilgrims visiting the Sayyida Zeinab shrine for Shia Muslims. |
Last year a car bomb killed 17 people on a road leading to the shrine. The bombing was blamed on Sunni militant. | Last year a car bomb killed 17 people on a road leading to the shrine. The bombing was blamed on Sunni militant. |
But Mr Sammour ruled out an attack after Thursday's explosion, which injured many people. | But Mr Sammour ruled out an attack after Thursday's explosion, which injured many people. |
'Confusion' | 'Confusion' |
He says the bus driver and two petrol station workers died when the tyre blew up as air was being pumped into it. | He says the bus driver and two petrol station workers died when the tyre blew up as air was being pumped into it. |
The BBC's correspondent in Damascus, Lina Sinjab, says there is a sense of confusion in the city behind the official statement. | The BBC's correspondent in Damascus, Lina Sinjab, says there is a sense of confusion in the city behind the official statement. |
This is because images of the blast and several witnesses have suggested that it may have been more than just a tyre explosion. | This is because images of the blast and several witnesses have suggested that it may have been more than just a tyre explosion. |
Initial reports had suggested that a bomb may have caused the blast. | Initial reports had suggested that a bomb may have caused the blast. |
Interior Minister Said Sammour ruled out a terror attack | Interior Minister Said Sammour ruled out a terror attack |
In a country with tight security control, bomb explosions are very rare, our correspondent says. | In a country with tight security control, bomb explosions are very rare, our correspondent says. |
Witnesses and media reports had earlier said six people had been killed. | Witnesses and media reports had earlier said six people had been killed. |
Mr Sammour told state-run Syrian TV the bus was carrying Iranian tourists and passengers. | Mr Sammour told state-run Syrian TV the bus was carrying Iranian tourists and passengers. |
He said there were no pilgrims nearby when the blast happened. | He said there were no pilgrims nearby when the blast happened. |
The al-Sayyida Zeinab shrine, popular with Iranian pilgrims, is dedicated to the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad. | The al-Sayyida Zeinab shrine, popular with Iranian pilgrims, is dedicated to the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad. |
Are you in Damascus? Did you witness the explosion? Send us your comments, pictures and videos. | Are you in Damascus? Did you witness the explosion? Send us your comments, pictures and videos. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. |
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