Explosions rang out in Damascus during Macron's visit, 18 injured

At least two explosive devices detonated in the Syrian capital Damascus during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to the country, UNN reports, citing Al Jazeera.

Details

Television footage shows plumes of smoke rising over the city on Tuesday.

Syria's Interior Ministry said at least 18 people were injured in the blasts, including four police officers, according to the state news agency SANA.

Source: Al Jazeera

A security official told Al Jazeera that the explosions occurred in a civilian-heavy area, calling it a "criminal act."

Video footage circulated online and verified by Al Jazeera shows a burning car.

An Al Jazeera correspondent reported that the explosions occurred near the Ministry of Tourism and a hotel where Macron was scheduled to stay during his visit to the capital for talks with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Macron's office said the French president, who was en route to a meeting with al-Sharaa, did not hear the explosions, and the visit continued as normal.

The country's Interior Ministry told SANA that the blasts occurred "outside the security zone designated for the French president's residence and posed no direct threat to the residence or the official visit program, which continues as scheduled."

"Preliminary findings indicate that the two explosive devices were improvised. One was placed inside a car parked on the roadside, and the other was hidden in a garbage container," the ministry said, as quoted by SANA.

"An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible," the statement said.

An Al Jazeera correspondent reporting from the presidential palace said the situation there is "quite calm."

Authorities have closed roads, and an investigation is ongoing.

Ismat al-Absi, a security expert from Damascus, told Al Jazeera that the targets of the explosions were not immediately clear. "We are not sure whether the improvised explosive devices were aimed at the French president's convoy as it headed to the People's Palace for a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa," he said.

Addendum

Last week, according to Syria's Ministry of Health, at least nine people were killed and 20 others wounded in an explosion at a cafe in central Damascus.