Suicide car bombers kill at least 44 in Syrian capital of Damascus

[News_Editor]

Suicide car bombers kill at least 44 in Syrian capital of Damascus

2011-12-24 05:51:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 44 people were killed on late Friday morning when two suicide car bombers hit two government buildings in the Syrian capital of Damascus, the government said. More than 160 others were injured.

The attacks happened just after 10:15 a.m. local time when a car bomber targeted a building of the Area Security Branch in Damascus, killing scores of security forces and civilians who were nearby. At around the same time, another suicide bomber drove his vehicle into the General Intelligence Administration building.

The Syrian Interior Ministry, which claimed the attacks 'carried the blueprints of al-Qaeda', confirmed at least 44 people were killed and 166 others were injured. Photos distributed by the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) showed the remains of many victims.

Among those killed, according to the Syrian government, were a child and a teacher at the al-Aman Orphanage Hanadi Qawwas near the General Intelligence Administration building. The orphanage was severely damaged as a result of the explosion, SANA reported.

Syria has been part of the wider Arab Spring movement since early in the year and has been riddled by violence ever since. Pro-democracy demonstrations have spread across the country since mid-March, resulting in a fierce government crackdown.

The Syrian government has repeatedly claimed that violent acts against protesters have been carried out by 'terrorists dressed as soldiers,' although international observers have strongly rejected these claims. Some opposition groups have also accused Syria of staging 'terrorist attacks' to justify the government crackdown.

In the wake of Friday's explosions, the Syrian Interior Ministry said they have the "fingerprints of al-Qaeda all over them" and said it marks an "escalation in the terrorist attacks afflicting Syria at the hand of armed terrorist groups for more than nine months." The Ministry said the attacks 'reveal the true face' of an alleged plot against Syria.

The international community immediately condemned the attacks. "I condemn the bomb attacks in central Damascus today and regret the loss of life and injury I have heard reported," said British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt. "There needs to be an immediate end to the violence in Syria for the sake of the Syrian people. There has already been too much death and suffering in Syria."

In New York, United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he is 'gravely concerned' about the escalating violence in Syria. "Today's explosions in Damascus, which resulted in more deaths and injuries, underscores his growing concerns," said Martin Nesirky, Ban's spokesman. "He emphasizes that all violence is unacceptable and must stop immediately."

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner also condemned the violence. "We extend our sympathies to the families of the victims," he said, adding that the U.S. government was still gathering information. "There is no justification for terrorism of any kind and we condemn these acts wherever they occur."

Meanwhile, Moscow also condemned what it described as a 'barbaric terrorist attack' and offered its condolences and sympathy to the victims and their families. "Once again I wish to reiterate our position in favor of a speedy end to violence in Syria," a spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "We believe that the Syrians themselves must come to an agreement on the future of their country and ways to solve pressing political, economic and social problems."

The United Nations earlier this month said the death toll in Syria as a result of the ongoing government crackdown against protesters and civilians in general has surpassed 5,000. The organization has also accused the regime of President Bashar al-Assad of torture.

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