A spokesman for the Syrian Interior Ministry told Al Jazeera that the two explosions near the hotel where French President Macron is staying were a double attack, with both devices placed outside the security fence minutes before the first blast. The devices were not pre-planted, according to the spokesman, who said the attack aimed to maximize civilian casualties.
The Syrian Interior Ministry's spokesman told Al Jazeera on Tuesday afternoon that the two explosions near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron is staying in Damascus were a double attack. Both devices were placed outside the security fence minutes before the first blast, the spokesman said, and were not pre-planted. The second device was activated after the first explosion, while people had gathered at the scene, according to the spokesman, who described the attack as aimed at causing maximum civilian casualties. This new statement provides operational details that were absent from the ministry's earlier account.
At 10:45 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the Syrian Interior Ministry had initially said the explosions targeted the security fence around Macron, citing Israeli news outlet ynet. At the same time, Macron confirmed his visit continued despite the blasts and that he was unharmed. The earlier reports offered no information on the nature of the devices or whether they were pre-planted. The spokesman's latest remarks, given to Al Jazeera, significantly expand the known details and confirm the attack was a coordinated double blast designed to cause civilian casualties.
As The Zioneer reported earlier today, Macron's visit to Damascus is the first by a Western head of state since the fall of the Assad regime. The visit included a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and the French president stated he had met with representatives of 'all shades of Syria.' The explosions occurred near the hotel where Macron was staying, but he was not harmed.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The investigation is ongoing, and the Syrian authorities have not released casualty figures. The exact method of detonation and whether the devices were remotely triggered or timed remain unclear.
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