Explosions in Damascus during Macron visit injure 18
Explosions in Damascus during a visit by French President Macron injured 18 people. No further details are available yet.
The Full Story
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Explosions in Damascus during Macron visit injure 18
A series of explosions rocked the Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday as French President Emmanuel Macron arrived for a landmark visit, injuring 18 people, including four police officers. The devices were reportedly placed in a garbage bin and a cart near the Four Seasons Hotel, where the French leader had been staying. President Macron was not at the hotel at the time; he was meeting Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharra at the presidential palace. Macron later posted that his meetings were continuing and the visit was unaffected.
Security services said they were aware of the devices but they detonated before they could be rendered safe. The bombs were described as not highly sophisticated. No group has claimed responsibility, but analysts suspect Islamic State (ISIS) or affiliated Sunni organisations may be behind the attack. The explosions come amid a fragile peace in Syria, and are seen as an attempt to undermine the government's efforts to rebuild confidence and stability. The incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in the country, which has seen previous attacks, including a large device that killed nine people in a cafe not long ago.
President Macron is the first Western leader to visit Syria since President al-Sharra came to power. He is expected to travel on to a NATO summit in Ankara after his Damascus meetings.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Sky News |
|---|---|
| 18 people including four police officers were injured in explosions. | |
| Explosive devices were placed in a garbage bin and a cart near where Macron was staying. | |
| No group has claimed responsibility; ISIS is suspected. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News focused on the security implications of the explosions, emphasising the volatility of the situation in Damascus and the potential threat to President Macron's visit. The report included analysis from their Middle East correspondent, who speculated on likely perpetrators (ISIS) and noted that the attack was probably intended to highlight instability rather than directly harm Macron. The tone was cautious and analytical, with a clear effort to contextualise the event within Syria's recent history of violence.
- “it is not so very long since a large device went off In a cafe in Damascus killing Nine people”
- “they are intended to shine the light on Syria and on the opponents of this president to say that this is still not a stable country”
Broadcast Timeline
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