Explosion near Damascus courthouse kills four, injures 11

DAMASCUS, Syria — An explosion at a café near the Palace of Justice on Nasr Street in central Damascus killed four people and wounded 11, Syria's Director of Emergency Relief Ahmed al-Bakur said on Sunday. He told the state news agency that 14 of the injured were taken to Mujahid Hospital, where four deaths and 10 wounded of varying severity were recorded. One additional wounded person was transferred to the Syrian Red Crescent Hospital for treatment. The cause of the blast has not been determined, and al-Bakur said material damage was reported at the café and surrounding area as investigations continued at the site. The café is located next to the courthouse and court complex, and is heavily used by lawyers, plaintiffs and visitors to the justice building. Authorities have not issued an official statement on the perpetrator or motive of the explosion.