French President, Emmanuel Macron is safe following explosions in central Damascus on Tuesday morning, the Elysee Palace has confirmed.
Macron is in the Syrian capital for talks with President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace.
A security source told the BBC that the blasts were caused by two explosive devices and that several people were wounded.
Video and images circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke and flames rising from a vehicle near a hotel in the city center.
BBC said the explosions occurred about 125m from the Four Seasons hotel, on Shoukry al-Quowatly, a major road in Damascus.
Despite the blasts, the Elysee said Macron did not hear any explosions en route to the meeting and that his visit “continues as planned.”
After Syria, Macron is scheduled to travel to Turkey for the NATO summit.
Syrian State television reported that al-Sharaa welcomed Macron to the presidential palace as news of the explosions emerged.
Macron arrived in Syria on Monday evening, becoming the first EU leader to visit since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule.
The incident comes weeks after another attack in Damascus. At the start of July, a bomb blast at a crowded cafe in central Damascus killed at least 9 people and injured 22, according to State media.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
