34 dead, dozens injured in Syrian car bombings

TWIN CAR bombings in the Syrian capital of Damascus have left at least 34 dead, with several wounded.

The state-run SANA news agency reported two cars packed with explosives detonated around 4.40am British time in the eastern Damascus suburb of Jaramana, home to many Christians who have fled violence in other parts of Syria.

SANA described the explosions as ‘terrorist bombings’, a description it reserves for the Sunni Muslim rebel fighters fighting back against President Bashar al-Assad, a member of Syria’s Alawite minority that has links to Shi’ite Islam.

The agency added that the car bombs caused considerable damage to surrounding property, with two smaller bombs exploding in the suburb around the same time. Television pictures showed firefighters hosing down the remains of two vehicles. Debris from nearby buildings had crushed several other cars.