Explosions in Damascus during Macron visit: What we know
Blasts occurred near hotel French president was reportedly staying in shortly after he departs for meetings at presidential palace. Explosions have been heard in the
Blasts occurred near hotel French president was reportedly staying in shortly after he departs for meetings at presidential palace. Explosions have been heard in the Syrian capital, Damascus, in what security experts believe may have been an attack targeting French President Emmanuel Macron and his delegation as he makes a landmark visit to the city. Macron is the first European leader to visit Syria since the 2024 ouster of Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces led by Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Here’s what we know so far What has happened in Damascus? Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto said two explosions occurred in a busy area of central Damascus near the Ministry of Tourism and the Four Seasons Hotel, where Macron had stayed the night before. Syria’s Ministry of the Interior said 18 people were injured, including four police officers, the state news agency, SANA, reported. Later on Tuesday, the ministry said the explosives had detonated after Syrian security forces discovered them and dispatched specialists to try to dismantle them. It said authorities were surveilling the area and investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, with the aim of discovering those responsible. The Reuters and AFP news agencies reported that the first blast went off in a rubbish bin shortly after Macron’s motorcade had left the hotel for the presidential palace.
Reuters footage showed flames and smoke billowing from the bin just as a second explosion was caught on camera a few metres (a few yards) away. The second blast occurred close to an ambulance parked near the Four Seasons while about two dozen people were in the vicinity. More television footage showed plumes of smoke rising in the sky over the city while online footage verified by Al Jazeera showed a vehicle on fire. Security experts told Al Jazeera explosive devices may have been placed and timed for when Macron’s entourage was en route to the presidential palace for meetings. However, Syria’s Ministry of Interior said the explosions took place outside Macron’s designated security perimeter and did not pose a direct threat to his residence or itinerary. The French president’s office said Macron, who did not hear the explosions, had arrived safely for a meeting with al-Sharaa along with their respective delegations. Al-Sharaa is expected to travel to the ongoing NATO summit to meet with US President Donald Trump. It is unclear if that trip is still going ahead following the attacks in Damascus. Reporting from the palace, Hitto said the situation there was “calm” despite the shock caused by the explosions. What do we know about who caused the explosions and why?
The BriefWire