Gunmen attack Damascus nightclub, killing woman: report

Gunmen Open Fire at Damascus Nightclub, Killing One, Wounding Several

DAMASCUS,— Unidentified gunmen stormed a nightclub in central Damascus early Monday, killing a woman and injuring others, AFP reported, citing a war monitor and a witness. It marked the second such attack targeting nightlife venues in the Syrian capital within a week.

The incident occurred at the Al-Karawan club, located in the Hijaz area, a commercial district where licensed bars and nightspots have operated for decades.

The attackers opened fire with automatic weapons before fleeing the scene, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

“There were gunshots around dawn,” a witness told AFP, requesting anonymity due to security concerns. “I waited until the shooting stopped before going inside. There was blood, a woman’s body on the floor, and complete chaos.”

The motive behind the attack remains unclear. Authorities have not released any statement, and the Syrian interior ministry did not respond to media inquiries as of Monday evening.

Another resident said security forces had been stationed in a vehicle near the club in recent days, observing the area. A nearby shopkeeper added, “There hasn’t been any trouble at that club in all the years I’ve worked here.”

Just hours before the shooting, video footage from a previous incident surfaced on social media. Verified by AFP, the footage showed armed men entering a nightclub and assaulting patrons with rifles.

In a televised statement Sunday, the interior ministry announced the arrest of suspects involved in that earlier assault. “After investigations and review of video evidence, those responsible were identified, detained, and referred to the judiciary,” the statement said, according to Al-Ekhbariah TV.

Officials warned that any future attacks on civilians or public property will result in strong legal action.

The attacks come amid increased public concern over whether the new Islamist authorities, who gained power after toppling President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, will impose restrictions on social freedoms. It. It is not known whether Monday’s incident is linked to those groups.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, widely known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, currently serving as the interim president of Syria. Formerly linked with militant organizations including al-Qaeda and ISIS, he now leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group that evolved from the al-Nusra Front.

(With files from AFP | Agencies)