Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara has vowed to arrest those responsible for the two explosions heard in the Syrian capital on Tuesday during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The two leaders were set to hold a meeting at the People's Palace when the detonations took place, injuring 18 people, including four police officers, Syrian state media reported.
“The investigation is continuing and we hope to arrest as quickly as possible those who carried out this hateful act,” Mr Al Shara told a media briefing.
He added that Mr Macron had shown “bravery” by issuing a statement immediately after learning of the blasts, saying the visit was continuing as planned.
The explosions took place near the Four Seasons Hotel, where Mr Macron had slept the night before.
Mr Macron said he was aware of the security risks linked to his visit, which his office had kept under wraps until he landed in Damascus on Monday night. News of his arrival was leaked in advance by Syrian sources.
“We are under no illusions regarding the risks – though they are under control – or the determination of certain groups to prevent Syria’s full return to the community of nations,” Mr Macron said.
Roads were sealed off and security measures were implemented after the blasts. Syria's Ministry of Interior confirmed the explosions had taken place outside the security perimeter set out for the French President's stay in the capital.
What we know
A witness saw two explosions, one near Victoria Bridge and another near the Ministry of Tourism. “Ambulances took wounded to the hospital and there is blood on the streets,” the witness told The National.
Two explosive devices were detected by Syrian security forces but exploded before they were dismantled, state news agency Sana reported. The devices were “primitive”, the agency quoted the Interior Ministry as saying.
One was placed inside a car parked at the side of a road and the second was inside a rubbish container, the agency said. Investigations are under way to identify the perpetrators, it added.
The blasts came days after 10 people were killed in a suspected terrorist attack on Thursday. No group claimed responsibility for either incident.
Mr Macron is the first EU head of state to visit Damascus since Syrian president Bashar Al Assad was toppled 18 months ago. The French leader is holding political and business talks with Mr Al Shara.
Before the visit, Mr Macron said he hoped the visit would help to enhance Syria’s stability and boost peace with its neighbours. He stressed the need to maintain the country’s diversity. Several thousand members of the country’s Alawite and Druze minorities were killed in violence involving government forces in areas on the coast and in the south last year.
