Damascus following the attack
Twin blasts kill 40 near religious sites in Syria's capital
Damascus is hit by two explosions on Saturday; 40 Iraqi tourists are reportedly killed, while 120 other civilians are injured; the blasts occurred near Shi'ite religious sites.
Twin explosions Saturday near religious shrines frequented by Shi'ite pilgrims in the Syrian capital Damascus killed at least 40 people, Syria's interior minister and media reported. Those killed are reported to have been Iraqi tourists.
Syria State TV aired footage from the scene showing blood-soaked streets and several damaged buses in a parking lot, apparently where the explosions went off near Bab al-Saghir cemetery. The cemetery is one of the capital's most ancient and is where several prominent religious figures are buried.
Damascus following the attack
Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar visited the injured in local hospitals. He said 40 were killed and 120 were injured. He said the attacks targeted civilians, including Arab visitors, who were frequenting the shrines in the area. He didn't elaborate, but Iraqi Shi'ites often visit shrines in Syria. Iranians and other Shi'ites from Asia are often also among the pilgrims to the area.
There were conflicting reports on what caused the explosions. State news agency SANA said the blasts were caused by bombs placed near the cemetery and that at least 33 were killed and more than a hundred wounded.
Lebanon's al-Manar TV quoted Syrian officials saying twin suicide attacks killed 40. Arab TV Al-Mayadeen said at least 40 were killed, and the area was sealed by security after the explosions.
Britain-based Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition monitoring group with activists on the ground, said at least 46 were killed in the explosions that targeted buses arriving near the cemetery. The Observatory said the death toll is likely higher because dozens were wounded.
A similar attack in Damascus last year targeted one of the most revered Shi'ite shrines and was claimed by the Islamic State militants.
Bab al-Saghir is one of the seven gates of the old city of Damascus and houses a cemetery where a number of early Islam religious figures, including family members of Prophet Muhammad and figures revered by Shi'ites, are buried.
