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At least 40 people were killed and 100 others wounded on Saturday when bombs ripped through buses carrying Shiite visitors close to the Shaghour neighborhood in Damascus, capital of Syria reports various news agencies..
The blasts targeted an area near the Bab al-Saghir cemetery between the Shaghour and Bab Musalla neighborhoods, an area known for Shiite shrines.
It was confirmed that the bombs targeted two buses of Shiite visitors in that area, placing the death toll at 40. Most of those killed were Iraqis.
Syrian State TV aired footage from the scene showing blood-soaked streets and several damaged buses in a car park, apparently where the explosions went off near the Bab al-Saghir cemetery.
The cemetery is one of the capital’s oldest and is where several prominent religious figures are buried.
Following a visit to local hospitals, Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar put the death toll at 40 people. He also said a further 120 people were wounded in the attack, which targeted civilians, including Arab visitors, who were frequenting the area’s shrines.
Shaar did not elaborate, but Iraqi Shia often visit shrines in Syria. Iranians and other Shia from Asia are often also among the pilgrims to the area.
Iraqi state TV said at least 40 Iraqi citizens had been killed in the twin blasts.
“Preliminary statistics indicate the fall of around 40 Iraqi martyrs and 120 wounded,” Iraqi foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Jamal said in a statement, terming it a “criminal terrorist operation”.
According to an Iraqi TV station, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said victims in the blasts were mostly Shiite, who came here to visit Shiite shrines.
This is the first terror attack in this area since February 2015. No organization has claimed responsibility for the blasts so far.
PHOTO -TV GRAB