Damascus, April 30 (IANS) At least 13 people were killed and 70 wounded when a car bomb went off Tuesday in the heart of the Syrian capital Damascus in front of the old headquarters of Syria’s interior ministry, the state-TV said.
The blast targeted the rear gate of the ministry in al-Marjeh Square, Xinhua reported citing media reports which added that many of those wounded are in critical condition.
The new building of the ministry is located in the Damascus’ district of Kafar Souseh.
The explosion was followed by gunshots and heavy black smoke was seen billowing into the sky. The 23-storey Damascus Commercial Tower has also been partially damaged due to the explosion.
The blast came one day after a car bomb blast targeted the convoy of Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi and killed and injured over 20 people. Al-Halqi, however, escaped unscathed.
