Damascus bomb blast 'suicide attack on police station', eyewitnesses report

Explosion detonated from vehicle parked in al-Midan neighbourhood of Syrian city, leaving as many as 11 people dead and more injured

Al-Midan in Damascus, Syria (Google Maps)

Two suicide bombers attacked a police station in Damascus on Monday, killing a number of civilians and policemen, the interior minister said, in the first such attack in the Syrian capital since July.

Four militants carried out the attack, killing more than 10 people, the pro-Damascus TV channel al-Mayadeen said. Russia's RIA news agency reported that 15 people were killed.

Militants targeted the station in the al-Midan neighbourhood and clashed with police officers there, Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar said in comments broadcast by state television from the police station.

One attacker blew himself up at the main entrance and another detonated his explosive device on the first floor, he said.

The blasts damaged the lower floors of the building and shattered the windows on one side.

Footage broadcast by state TV showed bodies wrapped in shrouds at the scene and fire fighters putting out flames.

Ambulances had previously rushed to the blast site while security agents cordoned off the area.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Previous suicide attacks in Damascus have been claimed by both Isis and the Tahrir al-Sham jihadist alliance, which is led by the group formerly known as the Nusra Front.

Reuters