Syrian Interior Ministry: Bag Containing Explosive Device Near Café Entrance Caused Damascus Hijaz Blast

ARK News.. Syria's Interior Ministry said preliminary investigations have found that the explosion targeting a café on al-Nasr Street in the Hijaz district of Damascus on Thursday, July 2, 2026, was carried out using an explosive device concealed inside a bag placed near the café's entrance.

In a statement, the ministry said the blast occurred on Thursday afternoon, killing nine people and injuring 20 others, in addition to causing material damage at the scene.

The ministry added that engineering teams and police dog units established a security cordon around the site and carried out thorough sweeps to ensure the area was free of any additional explosive devices or other threats.

It also said forensic teams had begun collecting evidence, lifting fingerprints, and documenting the crime scene as part of an ongoing investigation aimed at determining the circumstances of the attack and identifying those responsible.

The Interior Ministry said the investigation remains ongoing and that its findings will be released through official channels once completed. It urged citizens and media outlets not to rely on rumors and to consider statements issued by the ministry as the official source of information regarding the case.

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