Seven killed, 62 injured in car bomb attack near Damascus

At least seven people have been killed and 62 others injured in a car bomb attack near the Syrian capital, Damascus, Syria state television reported.

The incident took place on Thursday in the Jaramana suburb in southeast Damascus.

“The initial death toll for the terrorist car bomb blast in Jaramana is seven dead and 62 wounded,” the channel said, adding that some of the injured are in “critical” condition.

Television footage showed shocked residents and mangled and burning cars in the area.

The official SANA news agency said the bomb hit Jaramana’s al-Siyouf Square.

No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing, but such attacks are usually carried out by foreign-backed militants. The Syrian government has blamed the bombing on terrorists.

On July 16, a roadside bomb, planted by militants fighting against the Syrian government, exploded near Tall Durra-al-Ramliyeh road in central city of Hama, killing at least two people including a woman.

On July 14, another six people were killed and several others injured in two car bomb attacks in Dayr Atiyah near Damascus.

The unrest in Syria erupted in March 2011. A very large number of the militants operating inside Syria are reportedly foreign nationals.

According to reports, the West and its regional allies – especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey – are supporting the militants inside Syria.

The United Nations says more than 100,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of foreign-sponsored militancy against the Syrian government.