DAMASCUS, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from an explosion inside a cafe in central Damascus on Thursday has risen to nine, while the injuries have surged to 20, Syria's interior authorities said Thursday night in a statement.
The blast, occurred at around 3:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT), was caused by an improvised explosive device weighing about 1 kg and packed with metal fragments, the authorities said.
The device was detonated inside the cafe on al-Nasr Street in the Hijjaz area, about 70 meters west of the Justice Palace, the authorities said.
Security forces and emergency teams rushed to the scene shortly after the blast to evacuate the injured, provide first aid, and secure the area, the authorities said, adding that an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances of the blast and identify those responsible.
Earlier on Thursday, Syria's state news agency SANA, citing emergency officials, said all the casualties had been transferred to hospitals.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast.
