Damascus, Syria –
A police officer was killed and four others injured in an explosion near a police station near the Syrian capital on Wednesday, state media reported.
Citing the interior ministry, the report did not provide details about the explosion in the town of Barzeh, just north of Damascus. Initial reports listed only five police officers who were injured.
State news agency SANA circulated a photo of the charred car as investigators examined the damage.
A pro-government radio station said the car that exploded was a “private car”, citing a police source. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the explosion.
The UK-based opposition war watchdog Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the blast was a targeted attack, in which a total of seven officers were injured, some critically.
The explosion comes as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad moves forward to restore ties with the Arab world. Syria rejoined the Arab League on Sunday after being banned for 12 years.
On Tuesday, the Syrian and Saudi foreign ministries announced the resumption of diplomatic missions.
