An explosion rocked the central Damascus district of Marjeh on Tuesday, according to Syrian state television, with a watchdog group saying at least nine people were killed in the attack. A witness reported that automatic weapons fire could be heard in the district immediately after the blast.| Celebratory gun sex? |
State television showed footage of smoke billowing over the site of the blast, which shattered the windows of surrounding cars, knocking the bumpers off some and starting fires. Uniformed and armed plainclothes security forces could be seen running near the scene, as residents fled from the area.
Several mutilated bodies could be seen lying in the street, and at least one body wrapped in a white sheet was laid out alongside an ambulance.
Fire engines were at the scene with firefighters battling several blazes.