The Syrian Interior Ministry told Al Jazeera that Tuesday's explosions near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was staying were a double attack, with the second device detonated after the first when people gathered, aimed at causing maximum civilian harm. Both devices were placed minutes before the blast outside the security fence, according to the ministry spokesman, as reported by Sapir Lipkin (N12).
The Syrian Interior Ministry provided new details on Tuesday's double explosion near the Damascus hotel hosting French President Emmanuel Macron, characterizing the attack as a deliberate attempt to maximize civilian casualties. A ministry spokesman told Al Jazeera that the second improvised explosive device was detonated after the first, at a time when crowds had gathered at the scene, describing it as a dual attack designed to cause as much harm as possible to civilians. Both devices were placed minutes before the first explosion, outside the security perimeter, and were not pre-planted, the spokesman added.
The ministry's account evolved through the day. Initial reports, published by The Zioneer at 10:45 Jerusalem, said the explosions were aimed at the security fence around Macron. Later that hour, the ministry confirmed the attack was a double bombing, with both devices placed outside the fence (The Zioneer, Tue 10:45 Jerusalem). The latest detail, reported by Sapir Lipkin (N12), adds that the second device was timed to exploit the initial chaos.
The explosions occurred during Macron's historic visit to Damascus, the first by a Western leader since the fall of the Assad regime. The Zioneer reported (Tue 10:45 Jerusalem) that Macron met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Macron stated that the visit continues and nothing can undermine Syrians' desire for a sovereign Syria (The Zioneer, Tue 10:45 Jerusalem). The Elysee Palace confirmed Macron was unharmed, having left the hotel about 15 minutes before the first blast (The Zioneer, Tue 10:45 Jerusalem).
The spokesman also asserted that the blasts were politically motivated, not security-related, and that external actors are seeking to draw Syria into conflicts it has no stake in. He distinguished Tuesday's event from an earlier explosion at the Justice Ministry building, which he said was a separate incident. Casualty figures from the double bombing have not yet been released.
8 developments
- StrongMacron arrived at Syrian president's palace after explosions near his hotel
- DevelopingSyrian Interior Ministry: Damascus double bombing intentionally targeted civilians
- DevelopingElysee: Macron did not hear Damascus explosions, on his way to Syria meeting
- StrongSyrian Interior Ministry: Damascus cafe blast was improvised bomb, 9 dead
Source and signal
- Internal intake