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Deadly Blasts Rock Damascus, Syrian Intel HQ

Officials say at least 50 dead, 370 wounded

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 10, 2012 7:30 AM CDT | Updated May 10, 2012 7:38 AM CDT

(Newser) – At least 50 people were killed and some 370 wounded in two huge, nearly simultaneous bomb blasts in Damascus today, targeting the headquarters of the feared "Palestinian Branch" intelligence services, Syrian officials said. The bombs hit the busy al-Qazaz district, and according to an AP reporter on the scene, one ripped the façade clear off of the building. The other blew a 10-foot-deep crater in the city's southern ring road, according to Reuters, leaving body parts strewn across the street.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which the Syrian government blamed on "terrorists," saying that most of the dead and wounded were civilians. The head of the UN monitoring team in Syria visited the scene, and decried the "terrible violence," saying, "It is not going to solve any problems. It is only going to create more suffering for women and children."

Syrian security officers stand inside a damaged military intelligence building where two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on May 10, 2012.
Syrian security officers stand inside a damaged military intelligence building where two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on May 10, 2012.   (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)
Smoke rise from burned cars after two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday May 10, 2012.
Smoke rise from burned cars after two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday May 10, 2012.   (AP Photo/SANA)
Flames and smoke raise from burned cars after two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on May 10, 2012.
Flames and smoke raise from burned cars after two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on May 10, 2012.   (AP Photo/SANA)
This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows an arial view of the scene where two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday May 10, 2012.
This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows an arial view of the scene where two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday May 10, 2012.   (AP Photo/SANA)
Syrian inspectors investigate the crater in front of a damaged military intelligence building where two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on May 10, 2012.
Syrian inspectors investigate the crater in front of a damaged military intelligence building where two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, on May 10, 2012.   (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, a Syrian fire fighter extinguishes burning cars after two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, May 10, 2012.
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, a Syrian fire fighter extinguishes burning cars after two bombs exploded, at Qazaz neighborhood in Damascus, Syria, May 10, 2012.   (AP Photo/SANA)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Tscare
May 12, 2012 2:24 PM CDT
This needs to be Updated   "Al qaeda linked militants have claimed responsiblity for the attacks" QUoted by Rt news! I speculated that Al qaeda was behind this And I left a comment below stating that,I guess i was right! These are the real terrorists,not iraqi civilians and afghan civilians If america would go after al qaeda,nobody would mind,alqaeda has been murdering muslims for years! They claim to be under the influence of islam,but they instead really just follow some satanic script! 
slammer
May 11, 2012 3:12 PM CDT
love love love it when they kill eachother not us! keep up the good work guys!
Observer
May 10, 2012 7:45 AM CDT
Wow - The CIA is making a big statement. The fact is - we have had a contingent of DoD and Spooks that have wanted to assbang Syria since the Beirut Bombing that wiped out 200 marines. Guess this is just a little thank you to the pricks. Must have been a BIG bomb in a very crowded place. A very dirty deed indeed. The US sets off more truck bombs than Hizbollah.

 
terrorism • Syria • Damascus • Arab Spring • Syrian uprising • Palestinian Branch

 
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