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IS Claims Suicide Bombing Targeting Damascus Police

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In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian soldiers and security officials gather at the scene of suicide bombings, outside police headquarters in central Damascus, Syria, Oct. 11, 2017.
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian soldiers and security officials gather at the scene of suicide bombings, outside police headquarters in central Damascus, Syria, Oct. 11, 2017.

The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for Wednesday's triple suicide bomb attack on the main police headquarters building in Damascus, Syria. At least two people were killed and several others injured.

IS issued a statement via the Telegram messaging app, saying three fighters with explosive belts carried out the attack.

Two of the Islamic State bombers blew themselves up in front of the building, while the third set off his explosives after being surrounded by police near the back of the building, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry.

“The terrorist suicide attackers tried to storm the police command headquarters ...The guards opened fire on them, forcing them to blow themselves up before they entered the building and achieved their goals,” the ministry said in a statement broadcast on state media.

Damascus Police Chief Mohammed Khairu Ismail said one of those killed was a police officer who had tried to stop the bombing.

“One of our forces grabbed one of the suicide bombers and prevented him from entering the building, so he blew himself up, killing the sergeant,” he said.

The bombing marks the second time this month that suicide bombers have targeted police in the capital. At least 17 people were killed last week during a similar attack on a police station in the southern Midan district.

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