31 killed in Damascus court house bombing

A terrorist bomb explosion has rocked a court building in the Syrian capital Damascus, leaving scores of people dead and injured.

Syria's official news agency SANA reported that Takfiri terrorists detonated a bomb on Wednesday in the Palace of Justice, a court house in the capital's al-Hamidiyah district, killing 31 people and injuring an unspecified number of others.

A judicial source was quoted as saying that an attacker blew himself up in a corridor after the security forces prevented him from entering the building.

SANA quoted a source at the Damascus Police Command as saying that a terrorist wearing an explosive belt blew himself up in the building.

According to the Beirut-based al-Mayadeen television, the security forces have surrounded the scene of the incident.

Shortly after the court house bombing, the Syrian capital was hit by a second bomb attack in an area to the west of the building.

The second attack occurred as a bomber detonated an explosive device inside a restaurant in the al-Rabweh area, state media reported, adding that there were several casualties.

No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The blasts come a few days after an explosion targeted the Syrian capital.

EA