A car bomb in a residential neighbourhood of the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday morning reportedly killed at least 13 people and injured 29 more, including civilians.
The attack was in front of a police station, which may have been the target, located in the heavily-populated residential district of Bab Touma in the capital’s historic Christian quarter, which includes numerous churches and hotels.
Ann Harrison, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International, said:
“Detonating a car bomb in such a heavily populated area is an indiscriminate tactic likely to cause civilian deaths and injuries.
“The fact the car bomb reportedly exploded as people were leaving a nearby church following a Sunday service serves to heighten the risk of civilian casualties.
“All sides in Syria’s armed conflict must abide by international humanitarian law and avoid attacks which indiscriminately kill and injure civilians.”
So far nobody has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack and the victims have yet to be identified.