Deadliest suicide bomb attack in months hits Damascus - in pictures

A suicide car bomber pursued by security forces blew himself up in eastern Damascus on Sunday, with a monitor reporting 18 killed

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows people gathering at the scene of an explosion along the road to the airport in southeast Damascus, Syria, Sunday, July 2, 2017. Syrian state TV said Sunday that a series of car bomb explosions have rocked the capital, resulting in multiple casualties. (SANA via AP)

epa06061457 Syrian workers clear debris near al-Ghadir Square from damage of a car bomb explosion in the al-Amara neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, 02 July 2017. According to the state TV, three car bomb blasts rocked the capital Damascus on 02 July that killed at least eight people and wounded a dozen others. It said that three car bombs went off at the Airport Road and al-Amara neighborhood in Damascus city. It indicated that the authorities chased the three cars and managed to intercept two of them near the entrance of Damascus city at the airport roundabout and destroyed them, but the third car managed to arrive in the capital and the suicide bomber on board detonated it, killing a number of people and injuring others. EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows damaged buildings at the scene of an explosion along the road to the airport in southeast Damascus, Syria, Sunday, July 2, 2017. Syrian state TV said Sunday that a series of car bomb explosions have rocked the capital, resulting in multiple casualties. (SANA via AP)

epa06061471 A view of a damaged building after a car bomb explosion near the al-Ghadir Square in the al-Amara neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, 02 July 2017. According to the state TV, three car bomb blasts rocked the capital Damascus on 02 July that killed at least eight people and wounded a dozen others. It said that three car bombs went off at the Airport Road and al-Amara neighborhood in Damascus city. It indicated that the authorities chased the three cars and managed to intercept two of them near the entrance of Damascus city at the airport roundabout and destroyed them, but the third car managed to arrive in the capital and the suicide bomber on board detonated it, killing a number of people and injuring others. EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI

epa06061475 A general view of damage caused by a car bomb explosion near the al-Ghadir Square in the al-Amara neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, 02 July 2017. According to the state TV, three car bomb blasts rocked the capital Damascus on 02 July that killed at least eight people and wounded a dozen others. It said that three car bombs went off at the Airport Road and al-Amara neighborhood in Damascus city. It indicated that the authorities chased the three cars and managed to intercept two of them near the entrance of Damascus city at the airport roundabout and destroyed them, but the third car managed to arrive in the capital and the suicide bomber on board detonated it, killing a number of people and injuring others. EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI

epa06061477 A man looks at burnt and damaged cars after a car bomb explosion near the al-Ghadir Square in the al-Amara neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, 02 July 2017. According to the state TV, three car bomb blasts rocked the capital Damascus on 02 July that killed at least eight people and wounded a dozen others. It said that three car bombs went off at the Airport Road and al-Amara neighborhood in Damascus city. It indicated that the authorities chased the three cars and managed to intercept two of them near the entrance of Damascus city at the airport roundabout and destroyed them, but the third car managed to arrive in the capital and the suicide bomber on board detonated it, killing a number of people and injuring others. EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI

epa06061483 Local residents look at damage caused by a car bomb explosion near the al-Ghadir Square in the al-Amara neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, 02 July 2017. According to the state TV, three car bomb blasts rocked the capital Damascus on 02 July that killed at least eight people and wounded a dozen others. It said that three car bombs went off at the Airport Road and al-Amara neighborhood in Damascus city. It indicated that the authorities chased the three cars and managed to intercept two of them near the entrance of Damascus city at the airport roundabout and destroyed them, but the third car managed to arrive in the capital and the suicide bomber on board detonated it, killing a number of people and injuring others. EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI

Ian Oxborrow

the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said security forces intercepted three car bombers on their way into the city early on Sunday morning. Two of the vehicles were blown up on the outskirts of Damascus, at a roundabout on the road to the city's airport. The third managed to reach the eastern Tahrir Square district, where he was surrounded but able to detonate a bomb.

The Observatory, a Britain-based monitor, said 18 people were killed in the bombing, including at least seven members of pro-regime security forces and two civilians.

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Updated: July 02, 2017, 1:19 PM