At least five people have been killed and 16 others wounded in a bomb explosion at a cafe in central Damascus, the Syrian health ministry told Alikhbariah TV.
The blast on Thursday was caused by an explosive device planted inside the cafe.
"The explosion that occurred in a cafe near the Palace of Justice in Damascus resulted from an explosive device planted in the location," state television said, after earlier reporting that authorities were seeking to determine the source of the blast.
Earlier, Alikhbariah TV reported that a blast occurred inside a cafe on Al-Nasr Street.
Medics and security forces were seen near the scene on the road leading to the historic Hamidiyeh Souq, one of the busiest spots in Damascus.
Ambulances were weaving their way through traffic with their sirens blaring as they headed to the site, and security forces cordoned off the area of the blast.
Nour Khayyat, 40, who owns a shop selling batteries for solar panels near the site of the explosion, told AFP that "at about 1200 GMT, I heard a powerful blast and the storefront shook."
"People rushed to the cafe and called ambulances," he added.
Mohammed al-Zahabi, the owner of a glasses shop next to the targeted cafe, was trembling as he told AFP, "After the blast, I felt strong pressure, and the whole place shook."
"I ran to the place and saw people lying on the floor with blood pooled around them everywhere," he added.
