Mourners in Damascus bury cafe bomb blast victims as officials promise justice

By Wessam Al Jurdi & Gavin Blackburn Published on 03/07/2026 - 17:36 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Although there is so far no indication who carried out the attack, many were quick to blame loyalists of former President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in an insurgent offensive in December 2024. Mourners filed through Damascus on Friday, a day after an explosive device detonated in a cafe in the Syrian capital killed 10 people. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The funeral procession in the normally bustling Midan neighbourhood carried the coffins of three of the victims. Another 21 were wounded in the explosion at a popular cafe near the capital's main judicial complex, which was often frequented by lawyers. Syria's Health Ministry raised the death toll on Friday from nine to 10. Officials have promised to arrest those behind the attack, but no updates were announced in the investigation. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Bahaa Qabbani said his brother, Fathi Qabbani, a married father of one son, worked at a shop near the site of the explosion and was passing by the cafe at the moment of the blast. He was killed. Mourners carry the coffin of one of the victims of an explosive device detonated in a cafe near Damascus' main courthouse, 3 July, 2026 AP Photo Qabbani called the perpetrators of the attack “a group of terrorists who are against the homeland,” and called on security forces to “take hold of the country with an iron fist." Although there is so far no indication who carried out the attack, many were quick to blame loyalists of former President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in an insurgent offensive in December 2024. During the funeral procession, some mourners chanted, “The people want remnants of the former regime to be executed.” Also on Friday, Syria's state-run news agency SANA reported that three members of security forces were wounded in an attack on a checkpoint at the entrance to the Damascus suburb of Jaramana. It said that a man on a motorcycle threw two hand grenades at the checkpoint guards and tried to throw a third one, but it exploded in his hand, killing him. Syrian security inspects the site after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe near the main courthouse complex in Damascus, 2 July, 2026 AP Photo Another person was arrested in connection with the attack, SANA reported. Since overthrowing the al-Assad dynasty, Syria’s new rulers have struggled to exert control across the country and to check extremist groups. Deadly attacks blamed on the so-called Islamic State group have targeted religious minorities, including a suicide attack on a church in a Damascus suburb and a bomb set off in a mosque in a predominantly Alawite area in the city of Homs. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Tripadvisor AI summaries give glowing reviews to dangerous hotels, consumer watchdog finds Mourners in Damascus bury cafe bomb blast victims as officials promise justice Damascus explosion caused by bomb, state TV says, as death toll climbs to nine Syria Bashar al-Assad Arab League Saudi Arabia Conviction Egypt