Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab announced on Thursday that the cell responsible for the “terrorist bombings” that struck Damascus two days ago has been arrested, according to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

The minister stated that the suspects were captured during simultaneous raids across four neighborhoods in Damascus and its surrounding countryside. Their identities, roles, and connections will be revealed after investigations are completed.

The two explosions occurred on Tuesday as French President Emmanuel Macron was visiting the city. Both bombs were placed near the Four Seasons hotel, where Macron was staying.

The Interior Ministry reported that one device was hidden in a parked car and the other in a rubbish bin. Both detonated as specialists were attempting to defuse them.

Speaking alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa after the blasts, Macron said: “We must at once stand alongside those who have been injured, continue to be uncompromising on security… but not let ourselves be destabilised.”

The attack injured 36 people and overshadowed the first visit to Syria by a European Union head of state since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Last week, a separate bomb attack at a crowded cafe in central Damascus killed nine people. No group has claimed responsibility, but Damascus Governor Maher Marwan said “bad actors” were trying to destabilize the country.

Source: www.aljazeera.com