At Least 16 People Killed In Damascus Bombing

Syrian activists say at least 16 people have been killed in a bomb attack in central Damascus.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on October 2 that a car bomb went off near a police station in the Syrian capital's Al-Midan neighborhood, before two suicide bombers detonated their explosive belts.

The Interior Ministry also reported the attack, saying two suicide bombers had blown themselves up, killing civilians and police officers, but giving no precise toll.

Syrian state media put the death toll at 17. The Syrian Observatory said eight police officers were among the dead.

Initial reports had put the number of dead at 11.

Citing a source in the Syrian security services, state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti said the attack was carried out by four suicide bombers.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Syria is embroiled in a six-year civil war that has killed more than 330,000 people and forced an estimated 5 million more to flee across borders to become refugees.

Russia and Iran support the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while the United States and Turkey back rebel groups.

The extremist group Islamic State has also entered the fighting and is opposed by all other sides.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa