Damascus, July 2 (Petra) -- The death toll from an improvised explosive device (IED) blast inside a cafe in the Al-Hejaz district of the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Thursday has risen to six dead and 22 injured.

A security source told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that Ministry of Interior units initiated field procedures immediately following the explosion. Internal security patrols and emergency medical teams rushed to the scene to evacuate the wounded and administer necessary aid, while a security cordon was established to secure the perimeter and ensure public safety.

Ahmad Al-Bakour, Director of Emergency and Ambulance Services at the Ministry of Health, told SANA that the casualties had risen to six fatalities and 22 injuries. The victims were transferred to Damascus, Red Crescent, Ibn Al-Nafees, Al-Rashed, and Al-Mowasat hospitals for urgent medical care, with injuries ranging from minor to critical.

Earlier on Thursday, the Syrian Ministry of Interior announced that an IED had detonated inside a cafe on Al-Nasr Street in the Al-Hejaz area. The ministry noted that investigations remain ongoing to determine the motive behind the attack and identify those responsible.

//Petra// AF