Muharram procession targeted in terrorist attack outside Damascus

A bomb planted in a taxi has exploded outside the Sayeda Zeinab holy shrine in a southern suburb of the capital Damascus, leaving a number of casualties.

The state news agency SANA said six citizens were killed Thursday and nearly 23 others were injured in the terrorist explosion in Damascus countryside.

A motorcycle was detonated near a taxi on the Kou Sudan street in Sayeda Zeinab, it said.

“The police and authorities concerned rushed to the explosion place as bodies of the martyrs and the injured were admitted to hospitals,” the interior ministry said in a statement on telegram.

The terrorist attack comes as millions of Muslims are commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH) with mourning ceremonies.

It was the second attack this week at the holy shrine. Two people were wounded in a separate blast on Tuesday.

It is high season for the shrine as Muslims flock there to commemorate the mourning ritual of Ashura.

The holy shrine of Sayeda Zeinab - the granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny) – is a site of mass pilgrimage for Shia Muslims from across the world.  

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the terrorist attack on Thursday. The terrorist Daesh group has claimed previous attacks on the site. One attack in 2017 killed at least 40 people.

ME