Syria says cell behind Damascus bombings arrested amid Macron's visit

What happened

The Syrian Interior Ministry has announced the arrest of a cell allegedly behind twin bombings in Damascus that rocked the capital two days prior, according to a statement from Interior Minister Anas Khattab carried by Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). The attacks coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to the city.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The explosions occurred near the Four Seasons hotel where Macron stayed, with one bomb hidden inside a parked car and another concealed in a rubbish bin. Both devices detonated while experts were attempting to defuse them. Thirty-six people were reportedly injured in the incident.

The suspects were detained following coordinated raids in four neighborhoods across Damascus and its outskirts. The Interior Ministry has said it will disclose details about the suspects’ identities, their roles, and connections once investigations are complete.

Known from the source

• Two bombs exploded in Damascus near the Four Seasons hotel on a Tuesday during Emmanuel Macron's visit.
• Thirty-six people were injured in the bombings.
• Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab stated that suspects behind the bombings have been arrested after raids in four Damascus neighborhoods.
• One bomb was placed inside a parked car, the other in a rubbish bin, detonating during attempted defusal.
• No group has claimed responsibility for the bombings.

What remains unclear

This attack adds to a recent series of security breaches highlighting the unstable political landscape in Syria since Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow in December 2024. The previous week saw a deadly bombing at a crowded cafe in central Damascus, killing nine, but no group has claimed responsibility for either attack. Local officials have pointed to 'bad actors' seeking to destabilize the country.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of the suspects’ identities and roles involved in the bombings. Independent confirmation of the number of casualties reported. Corroboration of the Interior Ministry’s claim regarding the coordinated raids and arrests.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Al Jazeera Syria. Open the source.