Dozens of people were martyred and injured, including children, as militants blew up a booby-trapped car in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Dozens of people were martyred and injured, including children, as militants blew up a booby-trapped car in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

“A terrorist explosion rocked al-Shahbander Area in Damascus on Monday leaving casualties and huge material damage in the surrounding area of the bombing,” Syrian officials news agency, SANA, reported.

The explosion rocked the crowded area near Salim Bukhari school, Buaeir Mosque and residential buildings, claiming the lives of at least 12 people, according to preliminary toll announced by medical sources.
At least 45 others were injured during the blast, the sources added.

Meanwhile, Agence France Presse reported that intense gunfire could be heard shortly following the attack.

However, SANA denied there were gun shots, saying: “SANA reporter denied an occurrence of any clashes, as some blood-stained TV channels said, pointing out that some authority members fired gunshots in the air to open streets for ambulances.”