French President Emmanuel Macron is safe following explosions reported in central Damascus on Tuesday morning, the Elysee Palace has confirmed.
Macron is in the Syrian capital for high-level talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the presidential palace as part of an official visit.
According to a security source, the blasts were caused by two explosive devices, leaving several people injured. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident have not yet been disclosed.
Videos and photographs circulating on social media showed thick plumes of smoke and flames rising from a vehicle near a hotel in Damascus shortly after the explosions.
Despite the incident, Syrian state television reported that President Ahmed al-Sharaa formally received Macron at the presidential palace as scheduled.
French officials said Macron neither heard nor witnessed the explosions while travelling to the meeting. The Elysee Palace also confirmed that the president’s itinerary remains unchanged, with his visit to Turkey for the NATO summit set to proceed as planned.
Source: BBC News
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