Central News Agency (Taipei, July 3, 2024, Central News Agency) Syrian state media reported that a bomb exploded in a crowded cafe in the center of the capital, Damascus, today, killing at least 6 people and injuring 22. No group has yet claimed responsibility. Reuters reported that Syrian state television said the cafe was near the Palace of Justice in the city center, and the explosive device had been placed inside the store beforehand. According to Syrian state media, Damascus Governor Maher Idlibi said the explosion was caused by a crudely made homemade bomb. Videos circulating on social media show injured people lying on the floor of a cafe with bloodstains on the ground, reportedly the scene of the incident, but Reuters could not immediately verify the footage. The attack presents a new security challenge for the Syrian government led by current President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa took power at the end of 2024 after overthrowing former President Bashar al-Assad. Although Assad's fall ended Syria's more than 14-year civil war, there have been several security incidents in Damascus since then, including a car bomb attack outside the Ministry of Defense in May of this year. That incident killed one Syrian soldier and injured at least 18 people. Although no organization has claimed responsibility for today's bombing, security officials have said that the extremist group "Islamic State" (IS) is attempting to exploit the security vacuum after Assad's fall to reactivate dormant members, recruit fighters, and deploy weapons. (Compiled by Yang Zhaoyan) 1150703 Stand with the facts. Your sponsorship is a force for safeguarding press freedom. Download the CNA "First-Hand News" APP to get the latest news in real-time. No reproduction, public broadcast, public transmission, or use of the text, images, or videos on this website is permitted without authorization.