Explosions heard in Syria’s Damascus during French President Macron’s visit

DEVELOPING STORYDEVELOPING STORY,

Casualties feared as two explosive devices go off in area busy with civilians.

At least two explosive devices have gone off in the Syrian capital, Damascus, as French President Emmanuel Macron visits the country.

Television footage showed plumes of smoke rising over the city on Tuesday.

A security official told Al Jazeera that the explosions happened in an area busy with civilians, calling it “a criminal act” and saying that casualties were feared.

Footage shared online and verified by Al Jazeera showed a vehicle on fire.

An Al Jazeera correspondent said that the blasts occurred near the Ministry of Tourism and a hotel where Macron was meant to be staying during a visit to the capital for talks with his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

⁠Macron’s office said the president, who was on his way to meet al-Sharaa, did not hear ⁠the blasts and the visit continued as normal.

Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto, reporting from the presidential palace, said the situation there was “pretty calm”.

Authorities have sealed off roads and an investigation is under way.

Ismat Al-Absi, a security expert based in Damascus, told Al Jazeera that the targets of the blasts were not immediately clear.

“We are not sure if the IEDs were targeting the French president’s convoy as he was heading to People’s Palace to meet Syrian president Ahmed Al-Sharaa,” he said.

“It is clear that the aim is to create unrest and send a negative message. But let’s be clear, there is a security gap and we need to fix it … in order to prevent portraying Syria’s security situation in a negative light.”

Last week, an explosion at a cafe in central Damascus killed at least nine people and wounded 20 others, according to Syria’s Ministry of Health.

More to come…