Interior Ministry: Jabhet al-Nusra Terrorists Attacked Police, Security Buildings in Damascus

DAMASCUS, (ST) – The Interior Ministry on Sunday issued a statement clarifying the terrorist incidents which took place in Damascus this morning.

“In a new escalation by the armed terrorist groups in Syria, three suicide bombers blew themselves up at 8: 45 a.m on Sunday  while trying to enter the building of Rukn Eddin Police Department in Damascus where police personnel clashed with them, the statement said.

It added that also at 9:30 a.m, three other suicide bombers tried to enter the Criminal Security Branch building in Bab Musalla area in Damascus to blow themselves up there. The branch personnel killed them and were able to explode the suicide belts they were carrying before they could enter the building.

The Interior Ministry pointed out that the initial toll of the bombings indicate that five people were martyred and nine others were wounded including civilians and military personnel. The blasts also caused huge material damage to public and private properties, official buildings, houses and vehicles at the site.

The statement stressed that the ministry’s competent authorities rushed to the scene to kick off investigation and trace evidence. Initial investigation indicated that the terrorists belong to the al-Qaeda-linked “al-Nustra Front” after badges and clothes, usually worn by the Front’s members, were found at the scene.

“Such coward criminal acts will never discourage us. The ministry will spare no effort to pursuit the takfiri terrorists, terminate terrorism and restore security to the citizens nationwide,” the statement affirmed.

The Interior Ministry urged citizens to cooperate with the authorities and provide information about suspicious cases that threaten the stability and security of the homeland.

Earlier in the morning, a terrorist suicide bombing hit Rukn al-Din neighborhood in northern Damascus. Civilian and military casualties as well as material damage were reported. 

Another terrorist attack also targeted the criminal security branch building in Damascus, when three suicide bombers with explosive belts tried to enter the building.

H. Mustafa