What caused the deadly bombing of a crowded restaurant in Damascus? | | Story

The narrator

The explosion occurred near the main court of Damascus killing six people and wounding 22 people as Syria fights to establish security.

A bomb exploded in a restaurant in central Damascus on Thursday, killing at least 6 people and injuring 22.

Researchers see it as a serious breach of security in the capital of Syria, but which was not unexpected due to the number of opponents of the new Syrian government.

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What happened?

The blast hit a popular cafe on Al-Nasr Street in the al-Hijaz area of ​​Damascus, about 100 meters from the main gate of the Palace of Justice.

Security sources told Al Jazeera that a man entered the cafe, placed an explosive device (IED) under a table and left the building, possibly intending to go to court to do something else.

Immediately after the explosion, the Director of Internal Security in Damascus, Osama Atika, and officials from the Ministry of Interior came to investigate.

The restaurant is popular with lawyers, court workers and tourists, said Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto, describing the incident.

“There are more casualties because it’s a very busy place,” he said.

Government officials have warned that most of the wounded who are being treated at Al-Mouwasa hospital are so badly injured that the death toll will rise.

Who could be behind the bombs?

No group claimed responsibility but Maher Marwan, the Damascus governor, said “evildoers” wanted to destabilize the country.

“The coming hours will reveal everything and those who shed Syrian blood will pay, but Syria will be fine as long as we are united and this will not shake the country of Syria,” the governor said on the steps of the court.

Analysts are pointing out factors that are against the Syrian revolution following the fall of the government of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

The House of Justice is currently dealing with major cases of prominent people in the previous government.

Among them is Atef Najib, the former security chief accused of torturing schoolchildren in Deraa in 2011, which sparked nationwide protests. Army chief Wassim al-Assad and former Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun have also been charged at the Palace of Justice.

Political analyst Kamal Abdo, speaking to Al Jazeera from Idlib, said there was anger among remnants of the old regime over the crimes.

More than 10,000 people linked to the old regime are still there, including ex-soldiers, Ba’ath party officials, remnants of the Shabiha (state-backed militia) and intelligence operatives, said Abdo, who “has a lot of experience in doing this”.

Can the government threaten?

Thursday’s blast follows recent security breaches, including May 19 A car bomb near the Armament Management Center in Bab Sharqi killed a soldier and wounded 18.

A bomb blast June 22 targeting the Mar Elias church in Dwelaa was reported by the ISIL (ISIS) armed group.

“It will take time for Syria to stabilize,” the Damascus governor admitted.

He insisted that the Ministry of Interior has made “significant changes” in security since the fall of the previous government.

“Every day, they will receive those who affect the security of Syria.” The more peaceful Syria is, the more people want to destroy it.

Expert Abdo said the new leadership has proven “better than expected in terms of security”.

But he warned that Syria faces a “tremendous security task” in dealing with the same violence and other extremists seeking to destabilize the country.