At least nine people were killed and 22 others injured on Thursday when an improvised explosive device detonated inside a café in central Damascus, according to Syrian state media and local officials.

The blast struck the outdoor seating area of the Al-Mushiriyah café on Al-Nasr Street in the Hijaz district, a busy area frequented by lawyers and visitors to the nearby Old Palace of Justice.

The Syrian Ministry of Interior confirmed that the explosion was caused by an IED, rejecting early speculation that it may have resulted from a gas cylinder or a lithium-battery malfunction. Security forces quickly cordoned off the site, while civil defense teams and emergency medical crews transported the wounded to nearby hospitals, including Al-Mujtahid and Syrian Red Crescent facilities.

The Ministry of Health later updated the casualty toll to six dead and 22 injured. Authorities said specialized units have opened a full investigation into the attack.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.

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