IED Kills Six Lawyers, Wounds 22 at Damascus Cafe Near Palace of Justice

An improvised explosive device planted under a table at the Al-Mushairiya Cafe on al-Nasr Street in Damascus's al-Hijaz district detonated on July 2, 2026, killing at least nine people — including six lawyers (Mohannad Khalaf, Mahmoud Shehab, Eid Mohammad, Fathi Al-Qabbani, Mohammad Shamali, and Hossam Al-Safadi) — and wounding 22. The cafe sits roughly 70 metres from the Palace of Justice, a popular gathering spot for legal professionals, and is located near the courthouse currently trying prominent former Assad-era officials, including ex-security chief Atef Najib. No group claimed responsibility; the local governor said 'bad actors' were trying to destabilize the country. Investigators said the bomber planted the device and left, possibly intending further attacks at the courthouse itself.